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"As young people continue to be
infected with HIV and AIDS at an alarming rate, it is critical that
we redouble our efforts to promote education, prevention and
testing," Blagojevich said. "Here in Illinois, we have kept our
promise to invest in HIV/AIDS prevention and services, but without
federal support for the Ryan White Act, we cannot adequately fight
the spread of this epidemic. Now is the time for Congress to
reaffirm their commitment to ending this devastating disease." The
Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act expired on
Sept. 30, but legislation has not been introduced to reauthorize the
program. The act is the nation's largest and most important source
of discretionary federal funding for HIV- and AIDS-related services.
Illinois communities rely on more than $70 million annually in
federal funding from the act to provide essential medical and
supportive services to low-income and under- or uninsured
individuals living with HIV or AIDS. In a letter to members of
Congress, the governor urged the reauthorization of federal
appropriations for the act.
Since taking office, Blagojevich has been a leader in the fight
against HIV and AIDS. This year, the governor launched the Brothers
and Sisters United Against HIV/AIDS project, a comprehensive, $2.5
million HIV/AIDS awareness campaign to address the alarming trend of
infection among the state's African-American community. The project
includes public service announcements, posters, transit ads, printed
materials, and partnerships with media outlets, churches and their
youth ministries, colleges, and organizations.
The governor also boosted spending for the AIDS Drug Assistance
Program by $3 million, to a total of $36 million, to allow more
people with HIV or AIDS who meet eligibility requirements to be
served and to increase the number of lifesaving medicines provided
from 74 to 80. The Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program, considered
one of the best in the country, provides prescriptions to 3,200
people a month. This year the governor also filed emergency rules to
implement HIV/AIDS rapid testing statewide. The emergency rules are
effective for a period of 150 days, which began on Sept. 14. The
Illinois Department of Public Health will file for adoption after
that time period.
In addition, the Department of Public Health has allotted
$250,000 to help fund the HIV/AIDS Policy and Research Institute at
Chicago State University. The institute, which Blagojevich helped
implement with a $350,000 grant in fiscal 2004, is conducting
research on why the African-American population is so
disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS and ways to produce
behavioral change.
The Illinois Department of Public Health conducted more than 20
HIV/AIDS testing and awareness events across the state on Thursday.
The department sponsored a World AIDS Day observance from 11:30 a.m.
to 1:30 p.m. in the Capitol rotunda in Springfield, where
community-based and health care organizations provided exhibits with
HIV/AIDS information and the Phoenix Center provided free HIV
testing. In Chicago, the "Wellness on Wheels" van provided free HIV
testing at Dominick's grocery store on West Roosevelt Road from 9:30
a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
"The HIV/AIDS trends in Illinois are similar to the numbers seen
throughout the country," said Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, state public
health director. "AIDS numbers are declining due to better medical
therapies that can hold off the progression from HIV to AIDS for
years. HIV numbers are rising because people continue to engage in
behaviors that place them at risk of HIV infection -- multiple sex
partners, not using a condom and sharing needles to inject drugs."
In Illinois, there have been 30,394 reported cases of AIDS since
1981. Illinois has the sixth-highest total of AIDS cases in the
nation.
The toll-free Illinois AIDS/HIV and STD Hotline is available to
answer questions about HIV/AIDS and to provide locations of free
counseling and testing services. The line can be reached at 1 (800)
243-2437 or TTY 1 (800) 782-0423 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. weekdays
and between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. weekends. Information about HIV and
AIDS is also available online at
www.basuah.org.
World AIDS Day events sponsored by the Department of Public
Health on Thursday:
Greater Westside Development Corporation
Working for Togetherness
Dominick's Grocery Store
3240 W. Roosevelt Road
Chicago
9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Asian Human Services
Christian Community Health Center
Sankofa Safe Child Initiative
Chicago Cultural Center
77 E. Randolph, Sydney Yates Gallery, 4th Floor
Chicago
3-7 p.m.
[to top of second column in this article] |
 Beloved Community Family Services
Englewood High School
6201 S. Stewart
Chicago
3-5 p.m.
The Women's Treatment Center
140 N. Ashland Ave.
Chicago
Noon-1 p.m.
Hektoen Institute for Medical Services
2100 W. Harrison St.
Chicago
Noon-1 p.m.
Habilitative Systems, Inc.
415 S. Kilpatrick
Chicago
4-7 p.m.
 LePenseur Youth & Family Services, Inc.
8550 S. Manistee Ave.
Chicago
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
South East Alcohol & Drug Abuse Center
8640 S. South Chicago Ave.
Chicago
10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Christian Community Health Center
9718 S. Halsted
Chicago
10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Regional CARE
Brown Chapel AME Church
1502 Mills Road
Joliet
6 p.m.
Regional Education and Advocacy Coalition on HIV/AIDS
East St. Louis City Hall
301 River Park Drive
East St. Louis
6-8 p.m.
Beloved Community Family Services
Englewood High School
6201 S. Stewart
Chicago
3-5 p.m.
Christian Community Health Center
Fairmount Chicago
200 N. Columbus
Chicago
4:30-6 p.m.
Working for Togetherness
George's Music Room
3915 W. Roosevelt
Chicago
8 a.m.
Working for Togetherness
Jericho Circle Housing Development
1451 Jericho Circle
Aurora
1 p.m.
Greater Westside Development Corporation
John Marshall High School
3250 W. Adams St.
Chicago
6-10 p.m.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
Main Street Church of the Living God
2000 N. Main St.
Decatur
5-8 p.m.
Puerto Rican Cultural Center/Vida Sida
West Town Community Clinic
Western & Division St.
Chicago
6 p.m.
Greater Westside Development Corporation
WGCI-FM radio station
8-9 a.m.
World AIDS Day Health Expo
113 Custer
Evanston
10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
World AIDS Day Health Expo
Oakton College
Des Plaines
10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Jo-Ray House Breakfast
23 W. 115th St.
Chicago
8-10:30 a.m.
[News release from the governor's
office]
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