Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced a grant of over $2.2 billion to the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program in 2015. The funding was to ensure people battling with the disease in the US receive the required healthcare, support services and essential medications on time.

Secretary Burwell said in a statement that in the last quarter century, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program has played a very important role in the United States’ public health response to HIV.

“These grants will make a difference for the most vulnerable Americans who lack adequate healthcare coverage or financial resources to pay for treatment”, said Burwell.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency within HHS is in charge of the program, which helps to provide care and treatment services to patients battling with HIV as part of a public health-oriented response to HIV in the US.

HRSA Acting Administrator James Macrae said in a statement that over the past 25 years, the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program has made several efforts for moving clients along the HIV care continuum.

As per reports, in 2013, almost 81% of program clients were retained in care and more than 78% of those who were in care are virally suppressed. Doing this has helped to improve clinical and public health outcomes by preserving health, increasing life expectancy and reducing transmission of HIV.