81.7 F
Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsArchivesHelp for People with HIV and AIDS Continues Under Federal Grant

Help for People with HIV and AIDS Continues Under Federal Grant

Aug. 2, 2007 — A $246,837 federal grant will allow the Health Department to continue providing emergency funds to about 120 women, children and infants across the territory who are HIV positive or have AIDS, officials said Thursday.
The money comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under the Ryan White Title IV Program, said Dianne Henry, program administrator for the Health Department. Delegate Donna M. Christensen announced the awarding of the funding this week.
The money will go to fund necessities such as utility payments, prescription eye wear and other social services, Henry said Thursday.
"It's used to assist them with emergencies," she said.
The Health Department first received the grant in 2001, she said. The grant is automatically renewed for four years, but at the end of that cycle the Health Department must reapply for the competitive grant, she said.
"Every year we get the same amount," Henry said.
Ryan White championed the cause of HIV/AIDS patients before he died of AIDS-related pneumonia in 1990 at age 18 in Indianapolis. A hemophiliac, he got AIDS from a blood transfusion.
His plight gained national attention when faculty and parents at his Russiaville, Ind., school tried to keep him out of classes because he had AIDS. The case went to court, and a judge ruled he could attend school. After receiving threats, he transferred to a school in the neighboring town of Cicero, where music artist Elton John bought him a home.
The U.S. Congress established the Ryan White program in 1990. According to the Health and Human Services website, the program helps more than 500,000 people around the country each year.
Back Talk Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.

Previous article
Next article