HIV/AIDS and Accountability, will we ever demand it?

Several years ago a handful of HIV/AIDS Accountability activists, including myself fought long and hard to demand accountability in the Los Angeles County AIDS Program office and the HIV/AIDS Commission. Our efforts paid off, and some significant changes were made even so many more are needed. However, LA County is not alone in having issues with how the HIV/AIDS dollars are spent, and the New York Times recently reported a very concerning issue with misspent HIV/AIDS dollars in Puerto Rico.

For many of us this news was saddening, but not surprising. Why, because a very similar situation occurred in Puerto Rico nearly eight years ago. In that case millions of dollars were alleged to have gone into a local politician’s election campaign. If not for the perseverance of two local HIV/AIDS activists this may have gone on unknown, but thanks to their efforts and those of their supporters many involved in the scandal were tried and some even sentenced to jail time.

However, what I find so disappointing is what appears and almost unwillingness of the mainstream media to cover allegations of fraud in HIV/AIDS fund disbursement, allocation and spending. Even in Los Angeles it took the reporting of a smaller, local newspaper to report on what was going on in the LA County Office on AIDS and the HIV Commission, the Los Angeles Times to this date has all but ignored it. So it would seem with the alleged problems in Puerto Rico. I guess that The New York Times, the self-appointed guardian of all that is news, doesn’t think that millions of misspent HIV/AIDS dollars (i.e. taxpayer dollars) and the plight of those living with HIV/AIDS not getting much needed services is not that significant – since I have only seen one article on this most important issue.

Attached you will find my letter to the editor (of course they opted not to run it) in response to their June 5th article “Puerto Rico’s AIDS Care in Disarray Over Funds”. One can only hope that The New York Times and other major newspapers will be as diligent in covering this very important subject matter as they are to issues such as Illegal Immigration rights and reform, the War in Iraq, and the upcoming Presidential nominations and elections. Even though the reporting in these news story is very often biased those of us with inquisitive minds can always investigate further, should we choose too.

But then again I’m an optimist!

Geneviève

June 5, 2007

Letters to the Editor
The New York Times
229 W. 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036

Re: “Puerto Rico’s AIDS Care in Disarray over Funds”

Dear Editor:

Over seven years ago a similar situation presented itself in Puerto Rico. In this case the corruption was so blatant that CARE Act money was transferred in shoeboxes to fund a political campaign. Numerous individuals went to jail, and the media paid it only a passing attention.

Now we learn that much needed money to provide life saving treatment is not getting to those in need and Dr. Cleever says the government who provides the funds is limited in what sanctions it can enforce! What a gutless and shameless statement. We have laws that address such lack of fiduciary responsibility and malfeasance!

How much longer will we stand by and let such unconscionable behavior continue? How many more people need to die? At least Senator Coburn is still demanding action, but when will AIDS Inc and their supporters join him in echoing these demands?

Sincerely,
Geneviève M. Clavreul, Ph.D.

Here is the link to the orginial article: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/05/health/05puerto.html?ex=1181966400&en=938024eecf868b