Real Stories Ryan White
Tony Franco and Alicia Diggs, both of North Carolina, tell their personal
HIV stories in the ’Ryan White. Real Lives’ campaign.

How has the Ryan White Program helped people living with HIV? Why not let some of the beneficiaries tell you in their own words. That’s exactly what they do in “Ryan White. Real Lives. Stories on the Real Impact of the Ryan White Care Act,” a campaign spearheaded by the HIV Prevention Justice Alliance (HIV PJA).

The campaign’s goal is to convince the U.S. Congress to continue supporting the national program. Since 1990, the Ryan White Program has offered lifesaving medications, health care and supportive services to individuals and communities affected by the epidemic, particularly low-income and under-insured people.

Ryan White, according to the HIV PJA press release, remains a vital funding source for people living with HIV, particularly those in states that did not expand Medicaid coverage.

In addition to including personal stories, the campaign gives visitors opportunities to urge the federal government to support Ryan White and to ask their state governors and lawmakers to push for expanding Medicaid in key states.

Read the personal stories as they are uploaded here, and follow the campaign on social media using the hashtag #RyanWhiteWorks.