Poor Georgians hoping to get HIV and AIDS medications have longer to wait.

The joint federal and state AIDS Drug Assistance Program has been inundated by new applications, but budget cuts amid a recession have steadily increased the waiting list.

Jeff Graham of Georgia Equality says, about 30 to 50 people join the waiting list each week:

“The reason it grows each and every week is that the number of people who are testing positive for HIV or entering into the healthcare system for the first time who need assistance, that’s how many people are coming into the system every week.”

Last year, the program swelled by 40% more patients.

Currently more than 1500 Georgians living in poverty are on the AIDS drugs waiting list.

Tags: AIDS, HIV/AIDS, ADAP