For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Justin Burke - 213.201.1525
EMAIL:jburke@apla.org
For Immediate Release
AIDS PROJECT LOS ANGELES PRAISES SCHWARZENEGGER’S $117.5 BILLION BUDGET
HIV Drug Program, HIV Prevention Funded for 2005 - 2006
Los Angeles, CA, July 11, 2005 – AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) today praised Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Legislature for increasing funding to California’s life-saving AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) and for restoring HIV prevention and education funding for various local health jurisdictions in the state budget signed today.
California’s ADAP program, which provides HIV
medication to low-income and uninsured people, is funded at $268.3 million,
including more than $91
million in state general funds. Combining state funds with federal resources
from the Ryan White CARE Act, ADAP is projected to serve 30,000 Californians
during the 2005 - 06 fiscal year.
The governor’s budget also restores, on a one-time basis, nearly
all of the $6 million in funding for vital HIV prevention programs that
was cut in the 2001-2002 budget.
After a five-year battle with advocates, funding for vital HIV prevention and education programs was increased 2001-02 levels, when it was reduced due to severely constrained budget resources. While the augmentation of $5.63 million for HIV prevention may not fill the estimated need for such programs or recoup five years of reduced funding, it does signal a shift in directing the state's resources to HIV prevention.
The HIV prevention allocation includes General Fund support of approximately $24.9 million, which is currently directed to local health jurisdictions based on need. The California HIV Planning Group's formula is used to provide funds for those jurisdictions with the highest prevalence of the disease.
“The governor’s budget will keep thousands alive and many more healthy,” said APLA Executive Director Craig E. Thompson. “ADAP prolongs lives, and prevention education is our best weapon in the fight against HIV. We are extremely grateful to both the governor and the Legislature for providing these important increases to key HIV/AIDS programs.”
AIDS Project Los Angeles, one of the largest non-profit AIDS service organizations in the United States, provides bilingual direct services, prevention education and leadership on HIV/AIDS-related policy and legislation. Founded by four friends in 1982, APLA is a community-based, volunteer-supported organization with local, national and global reach. For more information, visit www.apla.org.
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