Education, Prevention Stressed in Fight Against HIV/AIDS
World AIDS Day focuses on Spread of HIV/AIDS in the South
and Minority Communities
Nashville, December 1, 2006
HIV/AIDS has affected every county in Tennessee. In observance of the 19th annual World AIDS Day today, the Tennessee Department of Health asks individuals to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS through education and prevention.
African-American women are increasingly at risk of contracting HIV, said Health Commissioner Kenneth S. Robinson, M.D. It is imperative that all individuals practice safe habits and know their own status and that of their partner to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.
African-American women represent the fastest growing population of newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS. Although they make up nine percent of the states population, African-American women comprised 20 percent of new HIV/AIDS cases in 2005.
The United Nations has estimated that 39.5 million people are now affected with HIV in the world. In 2006, 2.9 million people died from AIDS, and 4.3 million contracted HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. However, advances in and access to HIV/AIDS treatment has improved, leading to longer life expectancy for those who are infected.
Health organizations can partner with the faith community to even more greatly affect change and work toward reducing the burden of HIV/AIDS on our communities, Robinson said. The faith community can reach people where they are by communicating healthy living messages to congregants and their family members, mobilizing volunteers to raise awareness within communities and provide social support to those who are living with HIV/AIDS.
Memphis has been chosen for the 2006 national World AIDS Day observance, geared toward educating communities about HIV/AIDS in the South and minority communities; promoting prevention, testing and treatment; encouraging communities to enhance their current reactions to HIV/AIDS; forging collaborative efforts to fight HIV/AIDS; and providing information from the Department of Health and Human Services that will help communities in their response to HIV/AIDS. For more information, please go to
http://www.worldaidsday2006.org/.
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the immune system making it difficult for the body to fight infection and disease. HIV is transmitted by sexual contact with an infected person, by sharing needles and/or syringes with someone who is infected and from mother to child before or during birth or through breast-feeding. HIV leads to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), the final stage of HIV infection. However, having HIV does not mean that a patient has AIDS. Many people live with HIV for years or even decades before the condition progresses to AIDS.
Free, confidential HIV testing is available at every county health department. A list of local health departments is also available on the Department of Healths Web site at
No mention of encouraging people to get tested. Sheesh.