The Southern Tier AIDS Program is sounding the alarm over federal budget cuts.
Executive Director, John Barry, says less money will mean that some HIV patients won't be able to get medications that are keeping them alive. He also says having accurate data on the epidemic helps control healthcare costs. Sequestration also could mean that STAP will get fewer HIV testing kits.
Barry says the tests help guide infected persons to treatment and alert them that they need to change their behavior. "This knowledge can also result in behavior change that results in stopping further transmissions. Once again, no small matter when you consider that according the CDC the lifetime treatment cost for one HIV infection is $380,000."
Barry says national, state and local efforts over the past 30 years have helped prevent new infections and improved the quality of life for people living with HIV.
