Pathways to Wellness' AIDS Care Project funding renewed at same level

The AIDS Care Project, a program run by holistic therapies group Pathways to Wellness, learned May 2 that the funding it receives from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Office of HIV/AIDS will be renewed at the same level as last year.

"Given the cuts that are being made in so many areas, we were very relieved to receive the news that our AIDS Care Project will be level funded and feel that it is a ringing endorsement of the significance and importance of our program," said Demie Stathoplos, Executive Director of Pathways to Wellness. Stathoplos said that the funding process was very competitive, with 83 proposals received by MDPH requesting nearly twice the amount of funding available.

Pathways to Wellness' AIDS Care Project, located in Boston's South End, provides free acupuncture treatments twice a week to those living with HIV or AIDS to help alleviate pain and suffering. Acupuncture can help relieve digestive side effects and pain caused by HIV medication, and also relieves depression, insomnia, and stress. Since 1990, Pathways has provided over 80,000 free acupuncture treatments for people living with HIV/AIDS.

The program was recognized as an "innovation" by the US Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) in the April 13 issue of AHRQ's Health Care Innovation Exchange for providing access to acupuncture and herbal treatments for low-income individuals with HIV/AIDS and reducing side effects from antiretroviral therapy. The AIDS Care Project also works in conjunction with health care providers to increase patients' compliance with medication regimens.

For more information about Pathways to Wellness and the AIDS Care Project, please visit www.pathwaysboston.org or call (617) 859-3036.