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| | AIDS activits 'beg' for funding
Saturday, Apr 17, 2004 By Rob Moritz Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - A group of AIDS activists upset with the lack of funding for the Arkansas AIDS Drug Assistance Program demonstrated outside the state Capitol Friday. "Funding is woefully short and we have to come out and literally beg for our lives every year," said Eric Camp, who is an ADAP client. More than 10 activists, dressed as panhandlers, complete with tin cups, held signs and chanted "alms for AIDS" in an effort to show their plight "We just thought we ought to get good at it, so we thought we'd come out here today and become professional beggers," said Camp, spokesman for Postiive Voices, a community outreach program that helps people with HIV and AIDS." "We're hoping that our Legislature and our governor will begin paying attention to the needs of the state," he said. The state Department of Health announced this week Arkansas' ADAP has almost reached capacity and will soon begin a waiting list for new patients. Ann Wright, spokeswoman for the health department, said ADAP can serve up to 460 clients, based on federal funding. "Unfortunately, funding has not kept pace with the patient demand," she said. The department is asking AIDS patients not currently clients of the ADAP program to enroll as soon as possible. ADAP is a federally funded program that provides medications and treatment to uninsured or underinsured Arkansans with AIDS and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Annual begging for funds is required both in Little Rock and Washington, said Camp, spokesman for Positive Voices, a community outreach program that helps people with HIV and AIDS. |
