HIV, Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases on Rise in Cumberland County

The Cumberland County Health Department’s annual communicable disease report, presented Monday to the Board of Commissioners, shows that 72 percent more people were screened at its STD clinic in the past two years.

Cumberland ranks seventh among North Carolina counties for HIV. Its number of reported HIV cases rose from 84 in 2010 to 111 in 2011, while AIDS cases climbed from 41 in 2010 to 48 in 2011.

Buck Wilson, public health director, said the Health Department and the hospital system will collaborate on a community health assessment for the first time next year. Commissioners said they would like to see the county’s clinics offer evening hours so working people can access them more easily; Wilson said he is open to exploring that idea.

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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