Cleveland AIDS advocates decry federal funding cuts

Officials at Cleveland-area agencies that provide service to AIDS patients are criticizing federal funding cuts (Source: “More money, not less, needed for AIDS programs, advocates say,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sept. 17, 2008).

At issue, critics say, is the fact that federal funds have been cut by more that half since 2000. During that same time, there have been 49 percent more reported cases, according to the Cleveland Department of Public Health.

"The programs that desperately need funding aren't getting the necessary resources that they need," said Earl Pike, executive director of the AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland.