Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich last week said he has added back $1 million in state funds to address the growing concern of HIV/AIDS in minorities. This is on top of the original $2 million allocated.
Blagojevich noted that while African Americans represent 15% of the state's population, they account for nearly 60% of the 3,100 new AIDS cases diagnosed here.
The governor also got approval from the General Assembly to spend $5.1 million in new federal funds for the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program. The governor's HIV/ AIDS budget for the Illinois Dept. of Public Health is $55 million, with $35 million for ADAP. Illinois has recorded 30,057 cases of AIDS since 1981; nearly 55% have died. This state is seventh highest in the nation.
