Project ABLE is a statewide coalition of AIDS service providers, advocates and people with HIV/AIDS/HCV. Since the early 1990's, Project ABLE has successfully increased state funding for HIV/AIDS by working effectively with several governors and their respective administrations, the Massachusetts legislature, and through mobilizing a grassroots network of HIV/AIDS service providers, advocates, and people with HIV/AIDS/HCV.

Please restore critical funding for infectious disease programs cut from the HIV/AIDS/Hepatitis C Line Item (DPH 4512-0103) last year and fund the line item at $35 million. The following initiatives would be restored:

  • HIV/AIDS/Hepatitis C programs in our county jails that link inmates to care.
  • Support for Syringe Services Programs (SSPs), serving 63 cities/towns, which prevent the spread of infections among IV drug users and get them into substance abuse treatment.
  • Testing, prevention, and treatment of range of infectious diseases, including for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), Mpox, (Monkey Pox), and COVID-19.
  • Prevention and care management programs in community-based agencies throughout the Commonwealth which serve the most vulnerable and hard-to- reach populations at risk of infections.

In 2024, there were 22,093 individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Massachusetts; 540 individuals were newly diagnosed with HIV in 2023, a 20% increase over the annual number from 2020-2022.

It is estimated that 250,000 people in our state have Hepatitis C (HCV), a disease that is now curable with daily medication for 90 days.

Rates of gonorrhea cases rose 3X from 2013 to 2023; syphilis cases rose 10X from 2000-2023.  

The prevalence of HIV among Black residents is 10X that of White non-Hispanic residents; among Hispanics, it is 6.4X that of White non-Hispanic residents.

Project ABLE is a statewide coalition of HIV/AIDS service providers, advocates, and people with HIV/AIDS.
For further information, contact Mary Ann Hart, Project ABLE, [email protected], 617.797.8488.

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