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The AIDS Resource Center Ohio, a
nonprofit organization, recently opened the ARC Ohio Medical Center and
Pharmacy for HIV-infected adults.
The new center is the first in Ohio
to provide all-inclusive health care and social services for persons living
with HIV. It provides on-site testing, a pharmacy, mental-health counseling,
individualized case management, housing assistance, and primary and specialized
HIV care from doctors through a partnership with the Wexner Medical Center at
Ohio State University. The center, which is located in the Short North, was
modeled after similar health facilities in Wisconsin.
According to Peggy Anderson, chief
operating officer of ARC Ohio, Wisconsin has the lowest HIV death rate in the
nation, and this may be due to its comprehensive health services.
Bill Hardy, president and CEO of ARC
Ohio, notes that Columbus, Ohio, ranks 21st in new infections among U.S.
cities. The Ohio Department of Health statistics show that the number of
Ohioans living with HIV increased 32 percent (i.e., 16,329) from 2005 to 2009.
About 3,500 Franklin County residents are living with HIV.
The center will have a sliding-fee
scale. Although the services are not free, no one will be turned away for lack
of ability to pay. ARC Ohio will also continue its services of free testing at
its other offices and partner locations about the city and state.
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.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
