For AIDSWatch 2010, the largest national HIV/AIDS advocacy event, staged annually in Washington, D. C, over 500 activists, including people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), fanned out across Capitol Hill on April 26-28.

There were more than 20 Californians and also West Hollywood City Council Deputy Hernan Molina, staff and clients from AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA) and Jeffrey Goodman from the L. A. County Commission on HIV, this year.

This year the message was more The AIDS Watch message to Congress was more pressing than ever. More funds were campaigned for by the advocates, government support was asked for a National AIDS Strategy, and federal relief for cash-starved states.

Due to lack of funds AIDS Drug Assistance Programs (ADAPs), which provide life-saving drugs to low-income, uninsured or underinsured people living with HIV/AIDS nationwide are facing a threat. Several HIV/AIDS programmes have been hampered due to lack of funds.

The deadly virus has killed about 25 million people across the globe since 1980s and it has infected about 33 million people. No known cure is there for the AIDS virus yet but drugs can just help in maintaining a patient’s health.