AIDS Activist Colon in P.R.: I will not take AIDS medicines until ADAP waiting list is eliminated

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From: AF <afonseca62@...>

Date: Mon, 14 May 2007 11:50:21 -0500

Press Release

URGENT!

For immediate publication

May 14, 2007

Contact Persons: Pacientes de SIDA pro Política Sana Anselmo Fonseca

787-688-9465 / 787-283-8623 José F. Colon 787-688-9247

AIDS Activist F. Colon, a 54 year old AIDS patient and activist in

Puerto Rico, has declared today that ³I will not take any medicines for my

AIDS condition until the ADAP waiting list is totally eliminated and the

supposed thirty six (36) patients that are currently not receiving medicines

do.² ³We strongly believe that the true number is higher.²

³I need a certification from the Health Department of Puerto Rico, signed by

its Secretary, Honorable Perdomo assuring patients in Puerto Rico

that the waiting list has finished, and that measures are being taken for it

not to re-occur in the near future.²

³Today, around 10:15 am I called 787-274-5500, Dr. Greduvel Duran's office

al the DOH, and I was told by Matilde, his Secretary, that doctor Duran ³was

out of Puerto Rico².

³I asked her who was covering him and she directed me to Marco ez,

Esquire, who is his newly named Executive Assistant.²

³I explained Mr ez my determination of not taking my HAART treatment,

(antiretroviral cocktail), until I was certified that all patients were

taking their medicines too.²

³I asked him to investigate where the situation was at this moment, and a

few minutes later he called me and told me that he had received information

about the previously mentioned number and that this problem was going to be

solved this week after the patients were evaluated and included in the

system.²

³To this I answered that I would need the certification from the DOH in

order for me to re-start my intake of Lexiva and Combivir, which are the

medicines that I currently take.²

³At the last test I took my lab work said that I had a CD4 count of 450 and

that my viral load was undetectable...²

³I have taken this decision personally, without any pressure at all.²

³I believe that the system has not administered HIV/AIDS funds properly.

This has to stop, because I understand that under the Commonwealth's

Constitution waiting list are illegal.²

³I also believe that Law #349, the HIV/AIDS Patients Bill of Rights is also

being violated.²

Thank you.

Thank you, Gracias,

------------------------------------

Anselmo Fonseca

Co-Founder / VP

Pacientes de SIDA pro Política Sana

Calle Ronda C-1

Villa Andalucía

San , Puerto Rico 00926

tel: 787-283-8623

mobile: 787-688-9465

propoliticasana@...

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