Amida Care Joins AIDSWatch in U.S. Capitol

Washington, DC— On March 28, Amida Care’s team of staff, members, and Board Members, Charles King, President and CEO of Housing Works and C. Virginia Fields, President and CEO of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, joined advocates for AIDSWatch 2017 at the U.S. Capitol to educate members of Congress on the need for funding to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in America. Presented by The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation and organized by AIDS United, the Treatment Access Expansion Project, and the U.S. People Living with HIV Caucus, AIDSWatch is the nation’s largest annual constituent-based national HIV/AIDS advocacy event. This year, more than 600 advocates gathered in Washington, DC, making it the largest AIDSWatch event yet.

 

 

 

“This is an important moment in American history for all of us addressing health care. The HIV community will do everything it can to continue to lead the way to make sure that people have access to prevention, treatment and care,” said Jesse Milan Jr., president and CEO of AIDS United.

Advocates rallied in support of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Medicaid expansion. AIDSWatch participants also urged members of Congress to support the REPEAL HIV discrimination act and overhaul of HIV criminalization laws; protect entitlement funding and medication coverage; invest in the Ryan White program; invest in research for an HIV/AIDS vaccine; and support comprehensive sex education.

“We now have the tools to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic, but it won’t happen without real, collaborative leadership in our Capitol that works to remove barriers to HIV testing, treatment, and prevention. I was proud to lead the Amida Care team at AIDSWatch to help educate Congress about policies and programs that are critical to reach our goal to end AIDS,” said Lyndel Urbano, Director of Public Policy and Government Relations at Amida Care.