Interim U.S. Surgeon General shows public support for the #MillionsMissing
- #MEAction
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
This #MillionsMissing, #MEAction pushed for change in many ways — through community action and creativity, and through meetings with members of Congress and leaders at HHS and NIH. As always, it isn’t over — we are continuing to work hard to make sure that our policy needs are communicated fully, and translated into action. But we also want to celebrate the successes!
On May 12 in Washington, D.C., a small group of over 25 #MEAction advocates gathered at our art installation outside the HHS Hubert Humphrey Building to share our stories, strengthen connections, and educate HHS officials about what it’s like to live with ME, Long COVID and other infection-associated chronic conditions (IACCs).
Dr. Stephanie Haridopolis, now the Interim U.S. Surgeon General, was among the HHS officials who joined us for the event. She talked with advocates, listened to our stories, and spoke publicly in support of people with ME, Long COVID, and the chronic diseases that are too often overlooked.
In her remarks, she says:
"...We hear you. And we see you…. I validate you. You should not be gaslit anymore. These chronic illnesses exist. More work needs to be done…We will do everything we can to help you and meet you where you’re at."
She acknowledged that our community needs research, care, and real support. And she said, "You have a friend inside."
We encourage you to watch her #MillionsMissing speech and hear her full remarks for yourself:
We are actively working with Dr. Haridopolos’s staff to ensure they understand our community’s needs and priorities — including our priorities to secure medical frailty exemptions under new harmful Medicaid work requirement guidelines, and fund more ME research — and we will continue to do so. We will keep you informed as we go.
In the meantime, if you’d like to thank her for her show of allyship, please email advocacy@meaction.net, and we will get your comments to her.
If you are enthusiastic about our advocacy work, we’d ask that you make a donation today. We are extending the fundraiser to June 25th so you still have time!