Project ABLE, a statewide coalition of AIDS service providers, advocates and people with HIV/AIDS, is commemorating National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day this year with its first Virtual Lobby Day on Tuesday, February 7. As proud members of Project ABLE, Fenway Health and AIDS Action Committee urge you to get involved and take action this Tuesday to fight HIV/AIDS and end racial health care disparities.
According to the Department of Public Health, black residents in Massachusetts are diagnosed with HIV infection at ten times the rate of white populations. This disparity is unacceptable and must be combatted with renewed investment in HIV prevention and services funding.
Earlier this month, Governor Baker proposed cutting $4.8 million in funding for the next fiscal year from HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C programs, a substantial 15% decrease. These cuts would be devastating to the vital work community-based organizations do for people affected by HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C across the Commonwealth and further exacerbate healthcare disparities.
Join with Project ABLE and take action today – ask your state representative and state senator to invest $2 million in additional funds to prevent new infections with new tools like PrEP, and care for the increasing caseload of people living with HIV and Hepatitis C, so they can continue to live and work in their own communities.
Act now and ask your legislators to fund HIV/AIDS/Hepatitis C services (4512-0103) at $35M in FY18.
Ready to take action? Call or email your legislators now and ask them to join the fight against HIV/AIDS. Together, we can make this Virtual Lobby Day a success!