Governor Andrew Cuomo highlighted current statistics and plans for progress regarding HIV/AIDS in New York State in his speech at the Apollo Theater on Dec. 2.
Once being the epicenter of the AIDS outbreak 25 years ago, New York has made considerable leaps and bounds to do everything in its power to curb the disease. For this first time, since the outbreak, transmissions from mother to child have dropped to zero and Cuomo plans to stop the spread of AIDS in New York by the year 2020.
“It has been a long journey, but I give you my word that we will not end until we reach our target.” Cuomo said during his speech.
Cuomo has put $3.5 million into the state’s $2.5 billion budget for research in the hopes that this will catalyze scientific innovations for halting AIDS in New York. Unlike Cuomo’s recent decision to expand insurance and healthcare for those afflicted with AIDS, this move has drawn feedback both good and bad.
In addition to bringing awareness to international AIDS Day, the Kings and Queens of New Paltz put on a special performance on Saturday, December 5 to talk about what people can do to prevent contracting AIDS. Speakers from the New York City group “Love Heals” were invited to talk about certain programs and projects regarding prevention and education.
“If people don’t talk about AIDS, then there will be no way to prevent it; especially since high-school to college kids are the groups that have the most AIDS cases,” said President Connor Henderson of the King and Queens of New Paltz, a junior with a double major in photography and art education.