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The American South is having an
HIVAIDS epidemic which did not receive attention until recently. The release of
new HIV data in July has helped raise awareness of the epidemic’s shift from
cities such as New York and San Francisco to the rural South. According to a
July report by the Southern AIDS Coalition, approximately 37 percent of the
nation’s population lives in the South, but half of the new HIV diagnoses and
46 percent of the new AIDS cases occur there each year. Southern health
professionals and community members are implementing programs that target
access to health care, low education rates, and the stigma of HIV/AIDS.
In Alabama, there are only five
credentialed HIV medicine physicians. As a result, patients travel more than an
hour to reach a treatment center, and those without transportation often go
without care as there is no public transit in rural areas. To correct this
problem, staff at Medical AIDS Outreach of Alabama used to drive 50 miles once
a week from Montgomery to Selma to treat patients. In 2012, the organization
introduced telemedicine as a more efficient way to reach patients in some of
the state’s poorest and most rural communities. There are several remote sites
where patients can meet virtually with their physicians in a one-to-one,
real-time interaction. With a bluetooth stethoscope and digital dermascope,
doctors examine virtually a patient’s heart, lung, and abdominal sounds as well
as flushed skin, lesions, and thrush. A pharmacist is also available one a week
through telemedicine to discuss adherence to prescribed medications. In
Birmingham, Ala., cosmetology students learn basic information about the
disease, its stigma, and prevention methods as part of Beauty in Knowing, a
five-session program launched in 2010 with funding from AIDS United and other
organizations. The stylists are then expected to use the information to help
modify female clients’ risky behaviors and educate them on HIV/AIDS prevention.
According to CDC data, Florida had
the nation’s highest rate of new HIV diagnoses—33 cases per 100,000 of
population—which is almost twice the national rate of 17.4 per 100,000. The
state has the country’s fifth-highest rate of new AIDS diagnoses—19.7 per
100,000 of population—and the most AIDS-related deaths (2,621), according to
Kaiser Family Foundation 2010 data. The focus is on reducing the stigma of
HIV/AIDS. For this purpose, the Florida Department of Health started the Faces
of HIV project on December 1, 2011, which has been touring the state. The
project is a mobile art exhibit displaying portraits of Florida residents with
HIV/AIDS, journal excerpts from some of them, and video interviews about how
they became infected and how it affects their lives. The goal is to show that
these are ordinary people who have a disease and deserve care and compassion
like anyone else—because they have HIV does not mean they are dirty, do drugs,
or are gay. Also Marlene LaLota, MPH, of the Florida Department of Health, is
working with others to develop and implement programs to increase HIV/AIDS
testing, link more infected people to medical care, and reduce stigma about the
disease.
Louisiana has one of the nation’s
highest rates of new HIV infections—28.8 cases per 100,000 population.
Louisiana’s focus is on misconceptions about the disease and reducing the
stigma around it.
One individual with HIV, who could
not find a support group when she needed it, founded a nonprofit support
organization for persons in her area who have HIV/AIDS. The organization, known
as HEROES (Helping Everyone Receive Ongoing Effective Support), is trying to
educate infected community members about the disease and how to care for themselves,
with the help of volunteer physicians and nurses. The founder also organizes a
statewide retreat to help people build meaningful friendships and learn
techniques to manage stress. Members address teenagers about risky behaviors
that make them susceptible to pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and other health issues, and
visit the community to provide information, dispel myths, and create a tolerant
environment for those with HIV/AIDS.
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!
