Pride Center in Wilton Manors Concerned Over Losing HIV Testing Funds

For two decades, the Pride Center at Equality Park in Wilton Manors has been a vital resource for HIV testing, offering free services to thousands. However, this essential program could come to a halt as early as July due to the termination of key funding.

Loss of Crucial Grant Funding

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), the world’s largest medical research funding body, has recently cut millions of dollars in grants, including a $350,000 grant that The Pride Center depends on to provide free HIV testing. This significant loss of funding has raised concerns about the future of HIV testing in the area. Robert Boo, CEO of The Pride Center, expressed his concerns about the timing of these cuts, stating, “This is not the time to take away that funding because we are already fighting this battle and we’re not winning.” He stressed the importance of more funding to combat the ongoing HIV epidemic and reach communities in need.

Impact of Testing Services in the Community

The Pride Center’s testing services reach people where they live, by setting up testing locations in churches, pharmacies, schools, and stores. In 2023 alone, they tested 1,900 individuals, identifying three new cases of HIV already in the early months of 2024. Boo fears that without continued funding, there could be a resurgence of the virus, especially in areas like Miami-Dade and Broward counties, which have consistently had some of the highest rates of new HIV infections in the country. “If we reduce and severely pull back funding for HIV testing and our testing efforts, we then let multiple people walk around in our community with HIV who don’t know it and then can transmit HIV,” said Dr. Michael Sension, Regional Medical Director for CAN Community Health. He emphasized the importance of maintaining these testing efforts to prevent the further spread of the virus.

Trump Administration’s HIV Commitment Under Scrutiny

The sudden cut in funding has puzzled many, particularly in light of the Trump Administration’s 2019 commitment to eradicating HIV in the U.S. Dr. Sension pointed out the contradiction between the administration’s previous efforts and the current funding cuts, noting that vital agencies at the forefront of this initiative are now facing layoffs, reassignments, and financial setbacks. The NIH explained the funding cuts in a statement, claiming they were part of an effort to align research funding with current priorities. “We remain dedicated to restoring our agency to its tradition of upholding gold-standard, evidence-based science,” the NIH said.

Looking for Alternative Funding

With funding set to expire by June 30, Boo is already exploring other funding sources to keep The Pride Center’s HIV testing and outreach programs alive. Without alternative funding, the center risks losing its ability to serve the community, jeopardizing the progress made in fighting the HIV epidemic in South Florida. As HIV testing services face potential cuts, community leaders are calling for increased funding and resources to continue the fight against this virus, which still affects thousands of lives in the region.