Partly because Harrison County has recently seen one of the largest increases in new HIV/AIDS cases in Mississippi, the South Mississippi AIDS Task Force's new director, Amanda Breckenridge, made the rounds on the Coast last week seeking extra funding from Community Development Block Grants at city council meetings.
Breckenridge started the job about three months ago, but said she has been working with the SMATF since its inception.
She said she is seeking increased funding because the cost of living has gone up so much here, greatly affecting those who can already barely pay for treatment drugs.
"We see a need to find increased funding so we can help clients with utility and rental assistance," Breckenridge said. "We also see a problem with people needing gas cards. It's difficult to go to doctors appointments or come here for case management. (Some) clients have to decide at the end of the month: 'Is it going to be food I pay for or medication I pay for?'
The State Department of Health's 2006 Mississippi Cumulative HIV Disease Report showed 1,126 people in the six southernmost counties served by SMATF to be living with HIV. The total for all of Mississippi was 8,540 for 2006read more
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