With the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program in a funding crisis, Florida Department of Health data shows that in 2008 the state led the nation with the highest number of reported cases of HIV infection. #
According to the Department of Health, “an estimated 125,000 persons, or roughly 11.7% of the national estimate of 1,185,000 are currently thought to be HIV-infected in Florida.” #
And, “cumulatively through December 2009, 118,283 AIDS cases have been reported in Florida, of which 1,540 were under the age of 13.” #
The Florida Independent reported this week that the state’s ADAP, which provides free drugs to 10,000 qualifying HIV/AIDs patients, is set to run out of money on Feb. 10. #
According to the AIDS Healthcare Foundation: #
The Florida AIDS Drug Assistance Program, commonly referred to as ADAP, is $16 million short of being able to serve all of its current clients until April 1, 2011, according to the Florida Department of Health. Florida also has the largest ADAP patient waiting list in the country as well as the highest rate of new HIV infections in the nation. #
Nationwide, ADAPs serve over 165,000 people, accounting for one third of people on AIDS treatment in the U.S. Unfortunately, the need for these programs expands every year, as more and more people become infected and diagnosed with HIV/AIDS; each year thousands of newly diagnosed HIV patients turn to ADAPs because they cannot afford their medicines. #
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, along with the ADAP Advocacy Association, is hosting an emergency summit on the last weekend of this month in Fort Lauderdale to help find solutions to the state’s ADAP funding crisis. #
Department of Health data also indicates that #
in 2008, HIV was still the leading cause of death among black females ages 25-44. It is 2nd for black males, 4th and 9th for white males and females and 6th and 5th for Hispanic males and females, respectively, for individuals in the same age group. #
In 2009 alone, out of more than 395,000 people who were tested for HIV in Florida, more than 5,200 tested positive. #
The department’s data ranks Miami-Dade, Broward, Orange, Duval, and Hillsborough counties as the counties with the highest number of reported cases of HIV by 2009. #
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2008 Miami and Fort Lauderdale were among the nation’s top five metropolitan statistical areas reporting the highest number of diagnosed AIDS cases. #
The Florida Department of Health fact sheet: #
