Norfolk, Va., to Receive Nearly $5 Million for AIDS Treatment
The Norfolk, Va., metropolitan area has been awarded $4.74 million in federal funding from the Ryan White CARE Act to treat individuals with HIV and AIDS, the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot reports. Eastern Virginia has more HIV and AIDS cases than any other area in the state, and the number of HIV infections in Norfolk rose nearly 20% last year, despite a statewide 12% drop. Hampton Roads, located in eastern Virginia, has received more than $12 million from the CARE Act since 1997, as it is one of the nation's 50 metropolitan areas "hardest hit by the disease." Betty Rouse, business manager for the Norfolk Health Department, said that the money will be shared among local agencies to provide more than 1,500 people with medical and dental care, prescription drugs, housing, transportation to doctor's appointments, mental health counseling and other needs. Only low-income and uninsured patients qualify for the assistance, and none of the funds will go toward AIDS prevention. Hampton Roads also bears some of the highest rates of syphilis and gonorrhea in the country, and the state health department will spend $60,000 this year from a separate federal grant to work toward eliminating syphilis (Szabo, Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, 1/26).
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