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AIDS at 25
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 What was originally considered a disease for gay men, drug users and a guaranteed death sentence has become a global epidemic... and for many in the western world, a manageable disease. As AIDS turns quarter century this week, we’ll look back at the history of HIV, from transmission to treatment, to our awareness of the disease and look to what may be ahead for the next twenty five years of AIDS. Laura's guests are Wendy Fenari, Assistant Director for the Southern New Hampshire HIV/AIDS Task Force. Lynne Weihrauch, A nurse practioner at Dartmouth Hitchcock in Nashua, who works exclusively with AIDS patients. Annie Ball, a Merrimack County resident who has been HIV positive for 16 years. Five years ago Annie was diagnosed with AIDS. We'll also be joined by Gerry Scoppettuolo, Manager of the Cambridge Health Alliance in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a comprehensive HIV counseling and testing site. Web resources:
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What is your position on the US monetary contributions to African and Asian AIDS organizations? Especially given that many US citizens can't even get the medications that they need because of the lack of private insurance for many HIV positive people? and because Medicare Part D is good for nothing with many of the needed medications?
My perspective is and has been that this country, as in many issues, needs to take care of its own first and then consider being philanthropist to the world. Yes, the AIDS pandemic in Africa and Asia is devastating and they are nations with poor resources. But African Americans here are going without treatment and even the basic forms of health care for many reasons that aren't being addressed. I have no quarrel with the need there. There is not enough money in the world to send to Africa and Asia to control AIDS there. Surely the US could give some to the impoverished nations, but at an amount that leaves enough to address need here. Donations within reason from a multitude of countries, for now, should suffice. But to leave your own citizens - tax paying citizens and those who were until they became too ill to work - without life saving treatment and the support needed to stay on it is unconscionable. I find it hypocritical of our government.
The amounts of dollars going out of the country are outrageous when there are people on waiting lists in 15 states and growing for AIDS treatment medication in this country (some have assuredly died before reaching the tops of some states extensive wait lists), and while there are people with AIDs going without even the minimal of health care. It is not just the AIDS epidemic - the elderly go without, the working poor go without. In my opinion the government has no business ignoring the needs of its own citizens to help other countries to the extent it does.
There are also cuts in prevention money in this country when US youth are the fastest growing group for new infections in the US.
I think it is shameful, and certainly not a good example to other developing countries about how to behave as the most powerful and richest nation in the world.
I worked hard for 30 years - as long as I could. I paid taxes, I spent my retirement and savings first - and now I go month to month waiting to hear if my access to medications will disappear with the latest round of funding cuts while reading news of billions of dollars from a variety of sources go overseas. Am I bitter? You betcha. And angry as heck, which is why, I am an activist. I think when this history gets written many years in the future it will show one of the most shameful and longest periods of political negligence shown to a devastating public health situation. Thanks for the excellent question.
Annie Ball
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Things do not change; we change.
--Henry David Thoreau