FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 23, 2012                                          

MEDIA CONTACT:

STEVEN ENGELHARDT (314) 504-4029

Clay Announces $6.2 Million Federal Grant To Support Emergency HIV/AIDS Relief in the City of St. Louis

-WASHINGTON, DC. – Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri today announced the award by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services of a $6.2 million competitive grant to the City of St. Louis Health Department to fund emergency HIV relief programs. 

In a statement, Congressman Clay said, “I want to thank HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius for her steadfast support of my ongoing efforts to help the City of St. Louis prevent and treat HIV/AIDs.  Since it was officially recognized in 1982, AIDS has killed over 25 million people worldwide while 33.4 million continue to suffer from its effects.

In the United States, many of those patients are minorities and women. According to the Centers for Disease Control, HIV/AIDS has had a huge, disproportionate impact on African Americans. Despite representing only 14% of the US population, African Americans account for 44% of all new HIV infections.  That disturbing trend is especially acute in St. Louis.”

Congressman Clay has been a strong advocate for increased federal support for vital research to combat infectious diseases, expanded access to primary healthcare, and early intervention and treatment for those who are diagnosed as HIV positive.  Mr. Clay continued, “For HIV positive patients, early testing and consistent treatment are the keys to their survival and quality of life.  We have come a long way in fighting this deadly disease, but it’s clear that we must do more to educate the public and end discrimination in housing and employment for those who are battling this illness.”

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