Velazquez Statement on HIV/AIDS Services in New York City

Velázquez Statement on HIV/AIDS Services in New York City

NEW YORK - Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.) today released the following statement on the High Need AIDS Fund press event:

"As the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the U.S. - New York City has the highest AIDS case rate in the country. Right here in our City, AIDS is the third leading cause of death for those below the age of 65. The most troubling aspect is that thousands don't even know they are infected and for those that have been diagnosed, far too many are not able to get the care they need, resulting in very high death rates among African Americans and Hispanics.

"The racial disparity with AIDS is one of the largest - 80 percent of new diagnoses and deaths are among African Americans and Hispanics. Black men in our City are 6 more times likely to die of AIDS than white men and black women are 4 more times likely to die of the infection than white men and women.

"With such alarming statistics right here in New York City, the need for care is greater than ever. The administration's recent reallocation of Ryan White federal emergency AIDS money in New York resulted in 22 out of 32 grants being given to Manhattan-based agencies. However, the epidemic rings just as loud here in Brooklyn, and in Queens and the Bronx. This shift in funds is leaving these areas without access to supportive family and legal services, and treatment adherence programs.

"Because of this, Queens and the Bronx have no local Ryan White supportive programs and Brooklyn was left with only one borough-targeted family program. The tragedy in all of this is that these three boroughs now account for more than 65 percent of new HIV/AIDS cases overall, and almost 80 percent of new women's cases. That is why we are here today - to stop this injustice and ensure that all high need areas of New York City have fair access to vital AIDS services.

"This allocation of $5 million would fund approximately 25 projects to provide support, prevention, legal services and other programs in low-income, minority neighborhoods that have been left without critical services. This is a matter of life and death - these services are critical to the health and safety of all New Yorkers. People living with HIV/AIDS deserve to be treated with dignity and respect - and the need to have access to these services. Simply removing these support programs from vulnerable neighborhoods is not an option -and we will fight to ensure that our community has access to these life-saving services."

http://www.house.gov/velazquez/PressReleases/2006/pr050106.htm