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CDC's recent report that 53 percent of HIV-positive Chicago men who have sex with men are unaware of their infection - compared to 44 percent of infected MSM nationally - brought strong reactions from local HIV/AIDS advocates and service providers. Thirty years into the epidemic, MSM continue to suffer the highest infection rates of any US population, more than half of all new HIV infections each year. The AIDS Foundation of Chicago's Jim Pickett, who was involved in drafting the recently released National HIV/AIDS Strategy, said, "For once, we have clear direction that gay men and MSM need to be prioritized. The resources need to follow the epidemic."
But while the strategy's goals of reducing HIV incidence, increasing access to care, and minimizing HIV-related health disparities are laudable, no distinct funding was set aside. "We cannot provide care in the absence of funding," said Pickett.
Olivia Sanchez, executive director of Project VIDA, said prevention efforts have stalled in part because HIV/AIDS is seen as treatable. "Young adults that hear about it don't see it as a disease that can kill people," contributing to unsafe sexual practices, she said.
"We're seeing complacency, particularly in lax prevention practices," said Dr. Renslow Sherer, co-founder of Chicago's first HIV/AIDS clinic at Cook County Hospital in 1983. "What one generation understood well is not being well-communicated to young people." However, he noted, "The good side of complacency is widespread acceptance. Some of the stigma [associated with being HIV-positive] is reduced. But I think it's terrible when that translates to lax personal behavior."
"It's not just about young people," Pickett said. "It's natural that we can't maintain a crisis mentality for 30 years." Providers need to work at better communicating a complicated message: "It's not as scary as it used to be, but you still don't want it."
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
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