Savannah HIV/AIDS Awareness Organization Hopes More Funding is Headed Its Way

One Savannah organization is hoping changes from the Obama administration will bring much needed funding to the Coastal Empire.

My Brothaz H.O.M.E. provides free prevention, education, and support services for people living with AIDS and HIV. But because of the tough economy, the organization has lost 60 percent of its funding.

Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a new HIV/AIDS awareness campaign that may help organizations like My Brothaz H.O.M.E. We spoke with the organization's executive director about the campaign and what it means for Savannah.

"The cases are not going down. We're actually seeing over 55,000 cases annually in the United States. Those are new cases." That's just one of the reasons why Mark Douglas, the executive director for My Brothaz H.O.M.E., is hoping for more funding.

The CDC has launched a five-year, $45 million HIV/AIDS awareness campaign. That money will trickle down to health departments and community organizations.

"We're hopeful that with the monies that come to the state health department, that we'll be able to receive some of that money in order to do more." More as in services, advertisements and marketing, making sure people don't forget about HIV and AIDS.

Georgia ranks eighth in the nation in reported HIV cases and Savannah ranks number two for cities in Georgia. "That's why it's even more important to have greater awareness and social marketing campaigns to alert those individuals to get tested and get treatment and counseling," says Douglas.

My Brothaz H.O.M.E. has offered many services for nearly a decade. "We're actually relying on other community partners and pharmaceutical companies and non-traditional funding sources to help us do our work," says Douglas.

And this new campaign could mean more services for people who need it. "We've got to get the word out. Gotta get the message out that HIV/AIDS, there's no cure. There's no vaccine. That prevention is our best defense and early detection is the key," says Douglas.

My Brothaz H.O.M.E. will have to apply to receive some of that funding. If you're interested in the services My Brothaz H.O.M.E. offers, call the office at (912) 231-8727.