Utah AIDS Foundation responds to Trump\u2019s promise to end HIV infection

Utah AIDS Foundation responds to Trump’s promise to end HIV infection

In this year’s State of the Union address, President Donald Trump promised to fund the elimination of HIV transmissions in the United States by 2030.

“In recent years we have made remarkable progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Scientific breakthroughs have brought a once-distant dream within reach,” Trump said in his speech.

“My budget will ask Democrats and Republicans to make the needed commitment to eliminate the HIV epidemic in the United States within 10 years. Together, we will defeat AIDS in America,” Trump said. Some have criticized the Trump for cutting funding for HIV/AIDS programs in the past. Millions of dollars were shifted away from HIV/AIDS prevention programs last year.

Stan Penfold, executive Director of the Utah AIDS Foundation sent an email statement to the group’s followers”

“A wise friend of mine liked to observe that, ‘The best indicator of future performance, is past performance.’ While we at the Utah AIDS Foundation appreciate the mention of new HIV/AIDS initiatives at the State of the Union address last night, we have been down this road before. And as they say, the devil is in the details. There was no mention of any additional funding for HIV prevention or care. And in fact, this current administration has cut HIV spending over the past two years.

“So, while we applaud any new efforts to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, we do not hold out much hope for any new significant action by this current administration. I sincerely hope we are wrong.” Q