SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Saturday marks National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus is advocating for more funding to address the disease. Many community wellness groups feel the state has fallen short in promises for equitable healthcare funding.
Now, 39% of new HIV diagnoses in Illinois are Black people, yet Black people only make up 14% of the state's population. The Black Leadership Advocacy Coalition for Healthcare Equity in Illinois said it's time the state budget includes significant investments to tackle the disease in Black communities.
"The Illinois Department of Public Health has an HIV/AIDS division, and annually, less than 3% of their funding was going to Black-led organizations," said BLACHE Board Chair Creola Hampton.
Lawmakers and advocates are demanding that the Fiscal Year 2027 budget include $15 million for Black HIV/AIDS groups across the state. They told reporters in Springfield that Black healthcare matters, and the state needs to put its money where its mouth is.
"When we say we want to get to ground zero by 2030, that's four years away," said Sen. Lakesia Collins (D-Chicago). "When it comes to the Black community, we're looking at having to stretch that out because of the inequalities and disproportionate funding and the intentions of making sure that everyone who is affected by this can get the actual resources that they deserve."Â
The Illinois Department of Public Health told WAND News no funding has been withheld, and unspent funds from recent years have rolled over. IDPH said it will continue to work with Black-led organizations to disperse remaining funds.
"$15 million annually in a $54 billion bucket means not much when you're saving lives," said Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood). "Community organizations can build real lasting programs."
Gov. JB Pritzker will present his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2027 on Feb. 18.Â
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