Educating on HIV

Folks lined up, signed up and swabbed up last week as part of HIV Testing Week leading up to last Saturday's National HIV Testing Day.

The Gulf County United Community Corporation, Inc., in conjunction with the Florida Department of Health, put on the event at the Port St. Joe Police Department substation located on Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.

"We are trying to get everybody to know their status," said Laura McKinney, the DOH's director for HIV/AIDS in the six-county area that includes Gulf County. "We want everyone to know their status and make testing routine.

"People really need to know."

HIV is the acronym for the virus that can cause AIDS.

The virus is potentially fatal though advances in medications have long ago made it possible for infected folks to live long lives with the virus.

Across a pair of tables set up under a tent adjacent to the substation, McKinney and Amy Rogers, executive director of Gulf County United, had spread out HIV testing kits, an assortment of condoms, informational brochures and gift bags provided by the Gulf County Tourist Development Council.

McKinney said that despite decades of efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, to change behaviors that can turn deadly if untreated, education is still needed.

"People just don't want to know," she said. "They'd have to change some behaviors, such as not eating as they would like or having unprotected sex or drinking alcohol.

"People are also afraid to talk to each other."

As Rogers noted, "There is still a stigma to the virus."

McKinney said making testing - which no longer need involve needles since cheek swabs, similar to those for DNA tests, have replaced drawing blood - a routine part of health prevention is essential when it comes to HIV because symptoms of the virus might not present for three to six months.

It could be two to 10 years before the virus might morph into full-blown AIDS.

"Testing is painless, there are no needles," McKinney said. "We are just trying to educate people that it doesn't hurt to be tested."

Rogers emphasized that Gulf County United is present at the substation most every weekday, and some Saturdays, for those who wish to make testing a routine. She has the swabs and kits to send off for the testing.

By the end of 2007, an estimated 455,636 people were living with AIDS in America, with California, Florida, New York and Texas the states with the highest number of people with AIDS, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

AIDS diagnosis rates in Florida, New York and Maryland were much higher than the national average of 12.7 cases per 100,0000 population per year.

The CDC estimates around 1.1 million adults and adolescents are living with HIV in the USA, including those not yet diagnosed, and including those who have already progressed to AIDS.

Infection is most prevalent, percentage wise, among teenagers and the African-American population.

Florida Department of Health Encourages Floridians to get Tested for HIV

TALLAHASSEE - "Every nine and a half minutes someone becomes infected with HIV." The Florida Department of Health (DOH) joins community partners statewide in recognizing June 27, 2009 as National HIV Testing Day, encouraging all Floridians to get tested.  The theme of this year's campaign, "Take the Test, Take Control," focuses on the importance of getting tested for HIV and taking steps to protect yourself and your partners. Persons infected with HIV should access and stay in medical care.

Testing for HIV is widely available throughout Florida.  On June 27, many locations extended hours of operation and offer free testing.

Approximately 125,000 Floridians are currently infected with HIV/AIDS, with 20 percent unaware they are infected.  DOH is asking medical professionals to take a leadership role in their communities in promoting and encouraging HIV testing and prevention. 

"Florida had a record year for HIV testing in 2008, with over 370,000 tests performed by registered test sites around the state," said Tom Liberti, Chief of the Bureau of HIV/AIDS.  "Our recent expansion of testing programs in medical settings such as hospitals and community health centers has enabled more Floridians to be aware of their HIV status."

DOH recommends testing if a person has participated in unprotected sexual activity or has shared syringes or needles through drug use, tattooing or piercing.  Additionally, all pregnant women and children born to HIV-positive women should be tested.

DOH promotes and protects the health and safety of all people in Florida through the delivery of quality public health services and the promotion of health care standards.  For more information about National HIV Testing Day, please visit the DOH's web site at www.floridaaids.org.

For additional information about how to get tested, please contact your primary health care provider or local county health department.