WORLD AIDS DAY MESSAGE

 

---NEWS RELEASE---

 

 

(December 1, 2006)--- Hartford Mayor Eddie A. Perez is asking City residents and employees to take time to pause and reflect on this 19^th Annual World AIDS Day.  It’s been 25 years since the first case was identified and December 1^st is the designated day of remembrance.

 

“Just because we are elongating and improving the quality of life of those with HIV and AIDS, that doesn’t mean we can take our eye off the goal of trying to cure and prevent people from being infected in the first place,” says Mayor Perez.

 

The Mayor goes on to say, “Numbers only tell part of the story.  The complete picture can be seen when we put a face on the issue.”

 

Ryan White was such a person to put a face to the illness.  During the 1980’s he contracted HIV/AIDS as a teen and died in 1990.  His story gained worldwide attention.  Ryan was determined to live a normal life, including going to school.  His perseverance helped dispel many of the myths about AIDS and HIV. 

 

Earlier this year, the City of Hartford was awarded $4.6 million to continue the operations of its Ryan White Program, named in honor of Ryan’s fight for dignity.  This amount represented a 4% increase from the previous year.  The money helps provide the basic services of housing, transportation, medical assistance and meals for those in need. 

 

There are approximately 3,000 people living in the Greater Hartford region who are infected with HIV and AIDS.