COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) -- Activists rallied at the Statehouse today, calling on South Carolina legislators to end a waiting list for HIV and AIDS medications.
As of February 3, there were 389 people on South Carolina's waiting list for AIDS Drug Assistance Programs, also known as ADAP, that number continues to grow.
"What exactly are we waiting for? Is 389 not enough? Is there a certain number that we're waiting to hit? The youth want some answers and you asked us to hold you responsible, this is us asking you, restore funding for HIV prevention and help those on the ADAP list so that we know we have something to look forward to," says youth activist Nicole Chisolm.
Organizers want legislators to commit more state dollars to funding the program that provides the medications.
Senator Bradley Hutto also attended Wednesday's rally, "If we don't fund this program now and put attention to prevention and early treatment we will have longer term treatment, much more expensive treatment on the back end."
Organizers say increased state funding will allow more people to stay off of other public assistance programs such as Medicaid.
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