ADAP Action on City Hall Steps - November 30, 2009

Yesterday (11/30/09), advocates gathered on the steps of San Francisco's City Hall to call on the Governor to fully fund California's AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). The program, funded by both federal and state dollars, provides life-saving medications to low-income people who are either uninsured or underinsured. More than 34,000 people state-wide depend on the program to manage the disease, keep healthy, and thrive.

Dana Van Gorder, Executive Director of Project Inform, called on the Governor to not "delay the cost of health care" by cutting funding to ADAP adding that the cuts will "cost HIV positive people their health, and even their lives."

According to the press release issued by Project Inform:

Advocates estimate that the states ADAP faces a shortfall of approximately $100 million for fiscal year 2010-2011. Failure to close the shortfall follows the Governor's elimination of $85 million in state funding for other vital HIV/AIDS services earlier this year. It also comes at a time when President Obama has committed to renewing the nation's fight against the domestic HIV epidemic through the creation of a National AIDS Strategy.

Mark Cloutier, Executive Director of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, said "This country has worked very hard to provide funding to AIDS efforts globally." He found it disturbing and alarming that California is "abandoning that commitment in this state." He said "[Our] work will not be done even if we keep AFAP funds. It is a long-term fight we need to ingage in for the long run."

Other speakers included Jason Villalobos and Stacia Scherich both recipients of ADAP. "Five years ago, I was told that I had full blown AIDS," said Villalobos. "ADAP was the foot in the door between life and death."

Scherich echoed similar sentiments saying "If I don't have my meds, I will die. If I don't have ADAP, I will die."

While much emphasis was placed on what would happen without ADAP, hope still filled the air when speakers talked about how their lived changed because of ADAP. Scherich said because of ADAP she was one of the "lucky ones" and has been "in school for eight years so I can give back to the community."

Cecilia Chung, Chair of the Human Rights Commission, added "[We are] not here today to just speak about our rage...We are here talking about our lives!"

"[I am] part of a generation that has vanished because of the disease," said Bevan Dufty, San Francisco Supervisor of District 8. He brought Villalobos to the podium to show the positive impact ADAP has had noting "[it is because of his] access to anti-retroviral drugs that he is here today."

Ann Donnelly, Director of Health Care Policy for Project Inform, was the last speaker and concluded with by urging everyone to action. "We need the voice of everyone that benefits from ADAP and those that love someone that need antiretrovirals." She encouraged people to get involved in the fight. "Act up! Fight back! Save ADAP!'

For more information on how you can support the fight, visit Project Inform.

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