$63.9 million to fight HIV/AIDS in Georgia

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program has awarded Georgia $63.9 million in federal grants for use in the treatment and care of people living with the disease.

The federal program provides health services funding for infected people who don’t have sufficient coverage or financial resources. Overall, more than $1.79 billion was given nationally.

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In Georgia, recipients include county public health departments and community organizations such as AIDGwinnett, a Duluth-based program that provides medical care, testing, counseling, meal delivery and other services.

The grants will be used to provide outpatient health services, drug assistance, health insurance payments and support services like transportation and housing. Organizations that work with afflicted individuals say this infusion of money is much needed.

“It’s critical,” said Tracy Elliott, executive director of AID Atlanta, one of the largest comprehensive AIDS service organizations in the region.

In 2007, there were more than 18,000 people with HIV/AIDS living in Georgia, Elliott said, citing public health records. Georgia ranks sixth among states and Washington with the number of HIV-positive people, he said.

“We would have a lot of deaths without it. There would be significantly more illnesses without it and significantly more transmission of the disease without it,” Elliott said.

“Medical treatment and medications are of no value if people cannot have access to them,” he said.

Ryan White was the Indiana teen with hemophilia who contracted the disease though a blood transfusion. He attracted international attention for his fight to remain in school. There was a movie made about his life, and his cause was backed by a number of celebrities, including pop star Michael Jackson.

The program is administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration, which is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It helps more than 529,000 people annually receive the care and services needed to live healthier lives, according to a release by the agency.