Six members of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) resigned recently and cited the Trump administration as the reason behind their decision.
Six members of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) resigned recently.
One of them, Scott Schoettes, described their rationale for resigning in a Newsweek op-ed titled, "TRUMP DOESN’T CARE ABOUT HIV. WE’RE OUTTA HERE."
Schoettes writes, "As advocates for people living with HIV, we have dedicated our lives to combating this disease and no longer feel we can do so effectively within the confines of an advisory body to a president who simply does not care."
He also says, "The Trump Administration has no strategy to address the on-going HIV/AIDS epidemic, seeks zero input from experts to formulate HIV policy, and—most concerning—pushes legislation that will harm people living with HIV and halt or reverse important gains made in the fight against this disease."
Schoettes notes this was a difficult decision to make.
However, he goes on to add, "we cannot ignore the many signs that the Trump Administration does not take the on-going epidemic or the needs of people living with HIV seriously."
According to the PACHA website, it "provides advice, information, and recommendations to the Secretary regarding programs, policies, and research to promote effective treatment, prevention and cure of HIV disease and AIDS, including considering common co-morbidities of those infected with HIV as needed to promote effective HIV prevention and treatment and quality services to persons living with HIV disease and AIDS."