On Friday in Hollywood California, Santa Monica Blvd was blocked by a group of protesters demonstrating against the possibly fatal budget cuts being proposed by the Schwarzenegger Administration. The cuts are sweeping. The plan is to eliminate more than $160 million in HIV services which will also would jeopardize another $150 million in federal matching funds the state receives for HIV care.

The golden state faces a massive $24 billion state budget deficit -- with cash expected to run out by July -- California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is cutting funds draconically and that includes programs that keep HIV-positive people alive.

The results of such actions will be far reaching.

"This is the worst possible time to take support away from the most vulnerable Californians," said Judith Auerbach, Ph.D., vice president for science and public policy at the The San Francisco AIDS Foundation. "Balancing the budget on the backs of those at greatest risk threatens to reverse all progress made against the HIV epidemic over the past two decades."



"California's slash and burn approach to eliminating funding for the care and treatment of those afflicted by this public health epidemic is totally wrong-headed. As a result of its actions, the state could actually end up killing many poor Californians living with HIV/AIDS," said The AIDS Healthcare FoundationF President Michael Weinstein. "The state is destroying a crucial public health safety net by decimating over $400 million in AIDS treatment, care and support services. And in the end, the state will still be responsible for the care of many of these patients who will end up seeking far more costly care in overloaded emergency units throughout the state. These cuts would be catastrophic if they are implemented."

The fervent protest and subsequent march was staged in front of the Hollywood Forever cemetery. Many of the demonstrators who were HIV positive stated that they were weary and did not relish fighting for health care all over again. Many of the people in the crowd expressed the idea that this change in funding will result in their eventual deaths..........

Robert Stuart Lowden

Los Angeles

Sources

San Francisco AIDS Foundation. San Francisco AIDS Foundation Assails Governor's Plan to Severely Cut HIV Services. Press release. May 22, 2009.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation. California's AIDS Funding Cuts would be 'Catastrophic,' says AHF. Press release. May 22, 2009.

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HIV Positive Mom with her Daughter