The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria is facing a critical funding shortfall, totaling $5 billion. The US has pledged repeatedly to support the needs of poor countries struggling to deal with poverty and disease. Poor countries responded and tripled the size of grants submitted to the Global Fund, and now wealthy countries like the US need to come through and fund those programs. If the US and other wealthy nations don’t step up, then Fund may have to cut existing and future grants, which would lead to more unnecessary deaths.

Here at home, HIV prevention has been constrained by ideological prevention policies. Nowhere is this clearer than the fact that the US government does not fund syringe exchange programs. These programs dramatically reduce rates of HIV without increasing drug use, but Congress bars federal funding from supporting them.  We can slow the spread of HIV if Congress allows federal funding to go to syringe exchange.

This tax day, Wed, April 15, there will be a series of vigils at eight locations across the country calling for our tax dollars to fund the fight against AIDS worldwide and to provide proven HIV prevention programs here at home (see the attached flyer).

In our area, there will be a vigil in the district of Congresswoman Nita Lowey who chairs a powerful subcommittee that can direct much-needed money to the Global Fund for AIDS, TB, and Malaria.  Demonstrators will also be demanding an end to the federal-ban on funding needle exchange programs.  To get involved and reserve a seat on the bus, contact Jennifer Flynn at 917-517-5202. Also, there will be a pre-action meeting/poster making on Wed. April 8th at 6pm at NYCAHN, 80A Fourth Ave. b/t St. Marks and Bergen Sts in Brooklyn ( 2,3,4,5,Q,B,D,M,N,R train to Atlantic or Pacific Sts).  It would be great if ACT UP folks can show up to help.