Latest news with #DavidMartins
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
AIDS Project RI warns federal funding threats could ramp up HIV cases
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — In just 20 minutes, a person can find out if they have HIV. 'People just swab right along their gum line and it just sits in the solution,' said David Martins, director of AIDS Project RI. AIDS Project RI works out of Family Service of Rhode Island in Providence and has been offering access to free testing and medication for 40 years. Martins said treatments have dramatically improved in recent years, reducing the symptoms and spread of the disease. 'People who are living with HIV currently are able to get themselves to a place of being undetectable,' he said. 'Meaning there's so little HIV in their body that they cannot pass it to someone else.' AIDS Project RI helps 350 people with HIV statewide on a regular basis, of which 98% are now undetectable with access to daily medication. But Martins worries HIV cases could go up as access is called into question. Next week, the US Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments as it considers if the Affordable Care Act's no-cost coverage is constitutional. The provision requires coverage for HIV drug treatments as well as cancer screenings. Without insurance, the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute said preventative medications like PrEP can cost people up to $22,000 a year. Meantime, the Trump administration is continuing its efforts to cut down on taxpayer costs. Martins said more than half of their funding comes from the federal government. He said he's concerned a funding cut could increase the risk of the disease spreading once again. 'It can spread with the same kind of tenacity as it did in the 80s and 90s, nothing has changed about HIV,' he said. 'What's changed is what we know about it and that we have these tools to combat it.' Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Boston Globe
01-04-2025
- Health
- Boston Globe
The road to zero: Rhode Island's 40-year journey through the HIV/AIDS crisis isn't over
Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Despite Rhode Island's proximity to larger cities like Boston and New York, the first confirmed cases of AIDS did not arrive here until 1983. As numbers climbed, so did the anxiety. Calls to the Rhode Island Department of Health surged as residents demanded answers. But at the time, even doctors and public health officials had little understanding of the disease, leaving communities desperate for information and resources. Advertisement Initially called 'Gay Related Immune Deficiency' or 'GRID,' many believed this to be an issue only for gay people. Misinformation thrived, fueled by fear and prejudice. The early association of AIDS with intravenous drug use and homosexuality led many to distance themselves from the crisis, creating a culture where simply talking about AIDS was seen as incriminating. For those living with or at risk of contracting the virus, this silence was deadly. Without widespread education and awareness, Rhode Islanders lacked the knowledge to protect themselves or seek testing and care. Advertisement Meanwhile, the epidemic escalated across the country. By 1989, AIDS had become the second leading cause of death among men aged 25 to 44 in the United States. By 1990, more than 100,000 Americans had died from complications related to AIDS. Those affected faced profound discrimination, with Related : The past four decades have seen remarkable progress. The introduction of antiretroviral therapy in the mid-1990s transformed HIV from a fatal diagnosis into a manageable chronic condition. Today, 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV, and annual new infections have dropped to about 31,800. Pre-exposure prophylaxis – or 'PrEP' – has provided an additional layer of protection, offering near-total prevention when taken consistently. Advertisement Despite these advancements, the fight is far from over. In Rhode Island, 2,796 people are living with HIV. When we consider those living with HIV or not yet diagnosed, that number climbs to over 3,000. Disparities in care also persist. Black, Latino, and LGBTQ+ communities continue to experience higher rates of We have the tools to bring new infections to zero. We know how to prevent the spread of HIV, and we know how to ensure that those living with the virus receive the care they need to lead full, healthy lives. But knowledge alone is not enough. Continued funding is critical to expanding awareness, improving access to prevention, and ensuring that every person — regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic status — has the resources to live without the burden of stigma and fear. The next phase of this fight isn't just about treatment — it's about elimination. If we commit the necessary resources now, we can write the final chapter in the history of HIV. David Martins is the director of AIDS Project Rhode Island in Providence.
