← ‘The Other City:’ AIDS in D.C.

Photo 10.5

By Marcia Wade Talbert | Published April 29, 2010 | Full size is 500 × 400 pixels

In the film, Daniels met with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) to request more funding for Prevention Works the needle exchange program he worked for at the time. Until December 2007, Washington D.C. was the only municipality in the country not allowed to use its own city funds on needle exchange. In under three years, the District's needle exchange programs have removed more than 350,000 needles, enrolled 1,300 new clients and provided HIV testing to 3,000 people and linked 325 to drug treatment, according to a report released by Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and the D.C. Department of Health. “As far as changing legislation, I just hope 'The Other City' makes them take a deeper look at the work that we all do,” Daniels told BlackEnterprise.com after the screening. “I hope that they find a way to continue to provide funding. Right now we receive very little funding…about $125,000 per year and we see 3,000 clients…that is no money, so we are really behind on the eight ball.” For more information about and AIDS resources, visit AIDS.gov

In the film, Daniels met with Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) to request more funding…