So, I’m a little late in the game (don’t know how I missed this one), but it was recently brought to my attention that STD funding was drastically cut in NYC (the state and other states as well.) The first link I’ve provided is from an article in the Daily News Sept 2011. The second link I’ve provided is from an article on stdtestexpress.com posted Feb 2012. This article pertains to Illinois, but I believe the implications and correlations of budget cuts to STD testing in IL can be used directionally when looking at other states (like NY) that have cut STD funding. Before I even read the article about IL or even researched the information, I thought to myself, what the ****!!! It seems to me that the most important resources a state and city can offer are the first to be cut (public education/free healthcare). I can understand that free STD testing can become a huge expense and burden on a city and state budget, but it is the JOB of the government to protect those that cannot protect themselves and in this case that relates to STD testing. Many clinics (I have found due to calling 311, the department of health, and about 25 clinics in the 5 boroughs) offer SOME free testing and all still offer HIV testing. This is good and all, but some is quite frankly not good enough. I also thought to myself, well if it isn’t free, what does this mean for people who can’t afford the “low-cost” of testing? As we know, “low-cost” (and really anything pertaining to money and spending) is relative. What is low-cost to me, might not be affordable to you. This makes me wonder what this will do to the rise of STDs in NYC (and other places who suffered similar cuts). If IL is any indication of what is to come, seems like we will have a lot more people running around in oblivion to their STD status…
In short, the disparity in income inequality continues…
notjustmythoughts
http://www.stdtestexpress.com/std-news/county-cuts-programs-and-watches-std-rates-rise-800706866/
notjustmythoughts 