Governor Cuomo Speaks About World AIDS Day Leadership Award About Ending AID MY 2020 Coalition
New York — Governor Andrew Cuomo marks World AIDS Day for New York State to continue to progress towards ending the epidemic. The Governor will commit to $500,000 to help fund a New York City AIDS Memorial in an effort to support HIV/AIDS efforts in the 2016/2017 budget in addition to $200 Million. These funds will supplement the $2.5 billion the State already has to directly address HIV/AIDS. To celebrate this commitment, One World Trade Center, Alfred E. Smith Building and SUNY Administration Building will be lit up in Red tonight in recognition of World AIDS day.
The Governor also announced at the Apollo Theater in New York City, that he received the World AIDS Day Leadership Award from the End AIDS NY 2020 Coalition, which recognizes Governor Cuomo as the national leader in providing hight quality support services to individuals infected with HIV/AIDS. Governor Cuomo stated, “I believe that every state has an obligation to end AIDS, and here in New York, we are leading by example. We are expanding testing, ensuring that everyone with HIV ca get treatment, and breaking down barriers to preventive medicine. New York State is rapidly closing the gap against this epidemic, and well will not stop until it is a thing of the past.”
The New York City AIDS Memorial is the first permanent, free-standing tribute in New York City for more than 100,000 New Yorkers who have died from AIDS. As it is called the “Shovel-ready” project will be located at W. 12th Street and Greenwich Avenue. This location will feature an 18-foot triangular canopy structure creating a gateway to the park and a covered gathering location. In addition to Governor Cuomo’s announcement, the next phase of New York State’s Plan to End the AIDS Epidemic in the State will make additional financial and programmatic commitments of $200 million to ensure that New York State Ends AIDS by 2020, including:
- Expanding the availability of affordable housing and providing additional housing assistance for people with HIV.
- Make life insurance available to individuals with HIV between the ages of 30 and 60 years old.
- Invest in more funding for Medicaid Managed Care Plans; and
- Invest in more funding to help enhance services at “One Stop” STD clinics in New York City.
Governor Cuomo will like the federal government to increase their contributions nationwide for housing assistance for people living with HIV and AIDS. This funding from the federal government will assist for the Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA) nationwide to remain effectively stagnant for more than 5 years. This request will drive `the cost of over $300 million annually if Washinton renews support vital to maintaining the progress to address the epidemic.
For additional information on Ending the AIDS Epidemic in New York State, visit: health.ny.gov/
The full schedule of events and additional information on World AIDS Day activities is available here, and information on the New York State Cascade of Treatment is available here.
For additional news available at www.governor.ny.gov