The attached file describes what the Affordable Care Act means for people living with HIV. 

aca-hiv-aids-fact-sheet[1]

HIV has been with us for 30 years now. We have seen a lot of changes to this pandemic since its beginning.  Now with treatment people living with HIV can live full lives without developing the illnesses that defined HIV in the past.  In fact, treatment even reduces the chance of passing HIV on to uninfected partners.  We live in very hopeful times.  If everyone infected with HIV gets into treatment, we could see the end of AIDS.

Unfortunately right here in Southwest Michigan, HIV is still a death sentence for many.  About half of those infected with HIV in our area are not receiving life sustaining treatment.  About a quarter of those who are infected do not even know it yet.  The barriers to getting people tested and treated are many and complex, but we recognize that stigma is one of the greatest problems.  Because people are afraid of how they will be treated once others know they are HIV positive.

CARES Facing AIDS photo installation 2011

Community Leaders such as State Representative Sean McCann, Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell and other city commissioners are featured in our Facing AIDS photo installation.  When a community leader stands up and says, I am willing to fight AIDS, it gives confidence and support to the people living with HIV.  This photo installation represents our community coming together in the fight against AIDS.

The Facing AIDS project gives us an opportunity to show support for those living with HIV, and reminds all of us that while great improvements have been made, we need to continue to Face AIDS and commit to fighting stigma.  Will you join us?  Go to our Facebook page and like the CARES page.  Then take a picture with your sign that says “I am Facing AIDS”… and post it on our wall.  Show the community that you will join us in the fight against AIDS.

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/09/18/7802623-gamers-solve-molecular-puzzle-that-baffled-scientists

It costs CARES approximately $10.22 to perform an HIV rapid test. Current federal and state budget cuts jeopardize our prevention funding. CARES prevention staff work hard to test out in the community to reach those most at risk and we offer free HIV testing to the entire community. Please support our campaign by clicking here and donating to continue this crucial program.

Thanks for your support,

Your Friends at CARES

What I found interesting is when these investigators looked at over 5,000 gay men what they found was most of that wasn’t the problem.  It would seem that not knowing the status of partners and the fact that black gay men were less likely to be on medication to treat their HIV were, at least in part, the problem.

So the investigators are encouraging gay men, and especially black gay men to communicate about HIV with potential partners and then, we as an agency need to look at how we can reduce the barriers of treatment to black males living with HIV.

Personally,  my thought is that STIGMA is the single strongest barrier to treatment, testing and reducing the transmission of HIV and until we can remove the power of stigma we will continue to experience these kinds of disheartening gaps in who the virus in infecting.

So take this challenge, talk to someone today about HIV.  Talk about the the people it is infecting, talk about what CARES is doing, talk about how sad you feel that people are not comfortable discussing HIV. TALK, TALK, TALK.  Talk away the fear and ignorance stigma produces and encourage others to do so.

Pat

Be The Change

UNITED STATES:   ”Understanding Disparities in HIV Infection Between Black and White MSM in the United States”
AIDS Vol. 25; No. 8: P. 1103-1112    (06.15.11):: Alexandra Oster and others

The investigators sought to evaluate several hypotheses for HIV infection disparities between white and black men who have sex with men, including incarceration, partner HIV status, circumcision, sexual networks, and duration of infectiousness. The study design incorporated the 2008 National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System, a cross-sectional survey performed in 21 US cities.

MSM were interviewed and tested for HIV. For previously undiagnosed MSM, logistic regression was used to test associations between newly diagnosed HIV and incarceration history, partner HIV status, circumcision status, and sexual networks (oldest partners, concurrency and partner risk behaviors). For HIV-positive MSM, factors related to duration of infectiousness were assessed.

Among 5,183 previously undiagnosed MSM, incarceration history, circumcision status, and sexual networks were not independently associated with HIV infection. Infection was associated with having HIV-positive partners (adjusted odds ratio=1.9, 95 percent confidence interval=1.2-3.0) or partners of unknown status (AOR=1.4, CI=1.1-1.7). “Of these two factors, only one was more common among black MSM – having partners of unknown HIV status. Among previously diagnosed HIV-positive MSM, black MSM were less likely to be on antiretroviral therapy (ART),” the authors wrote.

HIV infection differences between black and white MSM may partly be explained by less knowledge of partner HIV status and lower ART use among black MSM, the investigators concluded. “Efforts to encourage discussions about HIV status between MSM and their partners and decrease barriers to ART provision among black MSM may decrease transmission,” they noted.

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Saturday, July 9 · 1:30pm – 3:30pm

We hope you’ll be able to join us in celebrating Jim’s lasting contributions to CARES and other agencies and people in the community. Come share your memories with others who loved and appreciated him.

In Kalamazoo and Battle Creek:

• Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 p.m.-6 p.m. at CARES, 629 Pioneer St., Kalamazoo
• 1st Wednesday of every month from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at the Edison Neighborhood Association, 816 Washington Ave., Kalamazoo
• 2nd Wednesday of every month from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at the Vine Neighborhood Association, 511 W. Vine, Kalamazoo
• 3rd Wednesday of every month from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at S.H.A.R.E. Center, 120 Grove St., Battle  Creek
• 4th Wednesday of every month from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. at Ministry with Community, 440 N. Church St., Kalamazoo

Participating partners in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek include the Edison Neighborhood Association, the Vine Neighborhood Association, the S.H.A.R.E. Center and Ministry with Community.

In Benton Harbor:

• Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. for walk-ins, or by appointment from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. at CARES, 185 E. Main St., Suite 604, Benton Harbor
• National Testing Day – Monday, June 27 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Benton Harbor Street Ministry, 200 E. Empire Avenue in Benton Harbor

Participating partners in Benton Harbor’s National HIV Testing Day event include the Berrien County Health Department, Lakeland Health Specialties, United Way of Southwest Michigan, Bethel Christian Restoration Center, Benton Harbor Street Ministry, The OutCenter, Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency and community volunteers.  This event will also offer colon cancer screening kits, as well as cholesterol and blood pressure screenings.

For more information, please call CARES at 269-381-2437 (Kalamazoo) or 269-927-2437 (Benton Harbor.)