City AIDS office receives $1.6 million grant

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health's AIDS Activities Coordinating Office has been awarded $1,682,127 in federal Minority AIDS Initiative funds, city officials announced yesterday.

The money will be dedicated for providing services in minority communities that are disproportionately affected by HIV disease. In addition to the Minority AIDS Initiative funds, the department will receive $786,624 in federal Ryan White Part B and State 106 funds. The money will pay for such services as psychosocial support, home health care, translation/interpretation, respite care and nutritional counseling.

The funds come at a timely moment. In May, the federal government reduced Philadelphia's Ryan White award for critical AIDS services by $2,426,956, Moran said. The cuts affected more than 65 community-based providers. - Inquirer staff