Teen Who Battled AIDS-Related Discrimination Remembered In RivCo

SOUTHWEST RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A Southwest Riverside County man is giving thanks to Ryan White, the Indiana teenager who fought discrimination after contracting AIDS in 1984 through a blood transfusion.

Tuesday, Aug. 18, marked the 30th anniversary of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act that was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton. The signing came just months after Ryan died from the illness in April 1990 at age 18.

Ryan became a face for the disease when he tried to return to school following his diagnosis. He fought AIDS-related discrimination, but rallied for his right to attend school. He gained national attention and became the face of public education about HIV/AIDS.

James, a 50-something resident of Southwest Riverside County, is forever grateful to Ryan's legacy. The local man was stunned when he received his HIV-diagnosis in 2012. After learning more about the illness and meeting the public health medical team that would become a big part of his world, James said his life turned around.

“I could not have asked for a better group of people to care for me. They are amazing,” said James, who learned of his illness after a routine checkup. “They are part of my family.”

In addition to case management, James was helped with mental health and outpatient services.

“My life would be so different if it were not for the programs that helped me,” he said.

Those programs James refers to are the result of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act. Riverside County health officials estimate the program has helped tens of thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS. Since 2004, Riverside County has allocated about $14 million in Ryan White funding for programs dealing with mental health services, outpatient care, case management, oral healthcare, and nutritional assistance, county officials said.

"It has saved countless lives and eased the burden on countless others,” said Kim Saruwatari, director of Riverside University Health System - Public Health, which operates several programs paid for by Ryan White funding.

Ryan never saw his high school graduation nor the impact his short life would have on hundreds of thousands of individuals living with HIV and AIDS.

“Ryan White’s courage in the face of sometimes cruel discrimination remains an inspiration for so many even to this day," Saruwatari said.

The care of those living with HIV/AIDS is particularly vital during the coronavirus pandemic because those individuals are considered at-risk due to underlying health conditions, county officials said.

James said he has taken part in various virtual appointments and appreciates the safety measures taken by Public Health’s HIV clinic to safeguard its patients from coronavirus.

“As we make our way through the current COVID 19 pandemic, it is days like today that remind us of heroes like Ryan White who gave us inspiration and hope during other challenging times facing disease and discrimination,” said Riverside County Board Chair V. Manuel Perez, Fourth District Supervisor. “These critical funding streams named in his honor are a vital source for treatment and care of some of Riverside County’s most vulnerable residents.”

To learn more about the programs offered through RUHS-Public Health, visit www.rivcohivaids.org.