Maine notified of AIDS-funding cut

The Federal Centers for Disease Control have notified the Maine State Office on AIDS that funding for 1991 will be reduced from $502,424 this year to $200,000.

The cutbacks come under provisions of the Health Omnibus Program Extension Act that shifts funding from a competitive to a formula basis. The formula allows $200,000 per state or awards based on number of reported AIDS cases in each state in 1989 as a percentage of the national total of cases.

In May 31, 1990, there were 136,204 AIDS cases reported nationally and 192 in Maine.

According to a statement by the Eastern Maine AIDS Network, programs to be cut include public AIDS education and education of people engaging in risky behavior, minority initiatives, outreach to substance abusers and their sexual partners and educating school-age children.