With the recent announcement that Ingham county now has the highest prevalence rate of HIV in the state of Michigan, outside Detroit, it is time to demand accountability from those who live off federal, state and local prevention monies. Jake Distel is the executive director of the Lansing Area AIDS Network, and until this funding cycle, the group was the primary prevention programmer in the region. Sadly, since 2003, the county has average 24.71 new infections a year, and in just the last five years it averaged 22.2 new infections a year. This is a sign that LAAN is not using federal, state and local dollars effectively. As executive director, Distel oversees the operations of the organization, and determines priorities.If this were any other business, such dismal returns on investment would be met by a board demanding a resignation. It is time we do that, and demand real leadership at LAAN.

Sponsor

Links