An MSNBC article reported that the current HIV/AIDS rate in our nation's capital is higher than that of West Africa.
Nearly 3,000 of every 100,000 people living in the nation's capital have HIV or AIDS, according to a report that will be released by D.C. health officials Monday.
"Our rates are higher than West Africa," Shannon L. Hader, director of the District's HIV/AIDS Administration, told The Washington Post. "They're on par with Uganda and some parts of Kenya."
Since it was first discovered in 1981, HIV/AIDS has continued to spread like wildfire throughout the world. We all know the "story". We've all heard of the non-profits that work to fund its "cure", the public service announcements that warn of its "severity", and the "living poster childs" that speak of its reach. We've all been "affected" in some way or another...but are we bound to be "infected"?
More AIDS patients create more hospital visits, more medication prescribed, and more health care costs. More healthcare costs means more money spent. More money spent means STIMILUS - but STIMULUS to whom? To the pharmaceutical companies? To the private banks who fund several public-private hospitals across the country? To AIG? Blue Cross and Blue Shield?
See these stats (source) relating health care, bankruptcy, and economy:
- A recent study by Harvard University researchers found that the average out-of-pocket medical debt for those who filed for bankruptcy was $12,000. The study noted that 68 percent of those who filed for bankruptcy had health insurance. In addition, the study found that 50 percent of all bankruptcy filings were partly the result of medical expenses.
- Every 30 seconds in the United States someone files for bankruptcy in the aftermath of a serious health problem.
- A new survey shows that more than 25 percent said that housing problems resulted from medical debt, including the inability to make rent or mortgage payments and the development of bad credit ratings.
The average health care cost for the “healthy’ patient is STAGGERING. Just think how it may affect the AIDS patient, the underserved/underrepresented BLACK patient, and/or the patient who just lost their job?? Will the government come and bail us out then? Many people have done expose’s on the cost of health care, but as AIDS/HIV rates continue to rise we need to stop talking and start doing.
Hyundai has an ASSURANCE program. The hospital should have one too!!
Read President Obama's campaign promise to eradicate AIDS
Did you know the Republicans fought to REMOVE AIDS prevention from the stimulus BILL?
