MAP Advocate
AIDS Advocacy Update
Vol. 9 No. 5
February 24, 2003
AIDS Action Day Special Issue
In this issue:
More People Are Living with HIV in Minnesota than Ever
4,331 people were reported to be living with HIV in Minnesota in 2001. As the number of those living longer and healthier lives continues to grow so will the need for health and social services and for sustained prevention to keep the annual number of new infections low. 288 new infections were reported in 2001, an increase over the previous year. Preliminary state and federal reports point to a likely increase to be reported in 2002, as well. An estimated 2,500 Minnesotans are infected with HIV but do not know it.
30 percent of the new infections reported were among people living in the Twin Cities metropolitan area -mostly in west suburban Hennepin County. 45 percent were among people living in Minneapolis and 15 percent in Saint Paul. Reflecting a trend that has extended throughout the epidemic's 20 years, 10 percent were reported living in Greater Minnesota. While there have been reports in 80 percent of Minnesota counties, the majority of the Greater Minnesota cases are in Rochester, St. Cloud, Moorhead and Duluth.
40 percent of newly reported infections in 2001 were among African Americans.
71 percent of the new cases involved male-male sex affecting all racial
groups as a factor. 25 percent of the new cases were among women - primarily
women of color. Officials describe the epidemic among African-born populations
as an "emerging trend" accounting for 16 percent of the new
infections.
The Pawlenty budget sustains the State's dollar commitment to HIV prevention.
Prevention works. A recently published report by the CDC estimates that
nationally, 1.5 million new infections have been prevented. Continued
investment in community-based prevention ensures culturally relevant and
age-appropriate public health education to curtail the growth in infections.
Each prevented HIV infection saves annual medical costs equivalent to
the purchase of a new car. Each dollar spent on STD prevention saves $12
in future health costs.
35 percent of Minnesotan's living with HIV benefit from state and federally funded HIV drug reimbursement and insurance reimbursement. These services reduce dependency upon Medical Assistance for the full cost of care. However, Approximately 5 percent of those with HIV depend on GAMC and 15 percent on Medical Assistance. They will have no place to go if their benefits go away or are reduced. Flat funding limits the ability to meet their needs through existing HIV drug and insurance reimbursement programs.
MAP supports the Governor's budget recommendations sustaining current levels of spending for HIV prevention and care.
MAP is concerned about the likely impact of reductions in public health
and health care coverage and benefits. They diminish overall prevention
efforts and limit health services for those we serve.
MAP will seek to reinstate funding for HIV workplace education and
K-12 HIV/STD Regional Training Sites in Brainerd, Grand Rapids, Park
Rapids, Winona and Hopkins.
MAP opposes policies that create barriers to HIV prevention such as
limitations on comprehensive sexual health education, restrictions on
content that prohibit culturally relevant public health services, and
repeal of human rights protections based on sexual orientation.
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Friday, March 30, 2007
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