Georgia Equality, through its Georgia HIV Advocacy Network, will be holding a rally on World AIDS Day, Wednesday, Dec. 1, at the Georgia State Capitol at 1 p.m. Earlier this year, Georgia joined a growing list of states facing a funding crisis for its AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). The program provides access to over 60 life-saving HIV-related medications for low- and moderate-income individuals without private insurance or Medicaid. In response to the funding shortfall, a waiting list was established, which has now swelled to over 700 people and is estimated to grow to 1,300 in the coming months if funding doesn’t increase.
ADAP currently serves approximately 5,500 people throughout the state of Georgia, but Saturday’s rally aims to increase that number and bridge the ever-increasing gap. “Join people living with HIV/AIDS and their advocates from throughout the state of Georgia as we deliver postcards to Governor-elect Nathan Deal asking that he provide increases in funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program to eliminate a waiting list for medications,” says Jeff Graham, executive director of Georgia Equality, which undertakes political action to build a fair majority in Georgia. For more information, visit www.georgiaequality.org.