ISSUE: World AIDS Day

OUR VIEW: T&D Region is ground zero in battle against AIDS

On today's World AIDS Day, there is a disturbing trend toward people dismissing the disease.

Too many people believe AIDS simply won't impact them. It happens to someone else, is some else's problem. Thus the theme of the U.S. World AIDS Day observance, The Power of Partnerships. It stresses the importance of everyone working together to make change happen in the fight against the epidemic.

"The Power of Partnerships supports the larger international theme, Lead, Empower, Deliver," said Dr. Andre Rawls, director of the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control's STD/HIV Division. "The theme emphasizes how individuals, communities and governments can get involved and demonstrate leadership through strong partnership efforts against HIV/AIDS."

According to Rawls, about 15,000 people are living with HIV in South Carolina and DHEC estimates that 990 people are newly infected with HIV in South Carolina each year. Every county in the state has residents living with HIV.

Our community is greatly impacted. With African-Americans accounting for half of new cases nationally, it's statistically consistent that AIDS is a big problem in our locale with its African-American majority.

African-Americans account for 30 percent of South Carolina's population but represent three-quarters of the HIV/AIDS cases in the state. The Edisto Health District, serving Orangeburg, Calhoun and Bamberg counties, has the highest incidence rate in the state of persons infected with HIV/AIDS.

Conquering the AIDS epidemic remains a priority. Reversing the spread of the disease among African-Americans in the state means no less than addressing a crisis.

Local health officials say individuals can begin to help their health and that of others by learning their status. That means getting a no-needles test at places such as the county health department.

"Free or low-cost rapid tests for HIV will be offered at numerous locations in DHEC's county public health departments and community-based agencies on and around World AIDS Day," Rawls said. "Many community-based groups will offer events and candlelight vigils to raise awareness of HIV issues and remember those who died from AIDS."

"DHEC encourages public health and private partnerships throughout South Carolina to end the stigma of HIV and promote community support for HIV testing, prevention, care and treatment," Rawls said. "DHEC continues to partner closely with community-based organizations to deliver testing, prevention and care services to those most in need. DHEC is working in partnership with hospital emergency departments to promote routine HIV testing for early diagnosis.

"Most people in the early stages of HIV infection have no symptoms," Rawls said. "Early diagnosis can help us link people to services that will help them stay healthy longer, benefit most from treatments and services, reduce costly hospital visits and help prevent transmission to others."

In our region, ground zero in the battle against AIDS, there is every reason for individuals to know their status and be part of spreading the word about the AIDS risk and what can be done to eliminate it.

For more information about World AIDS Day events, including local HIV testing sites, call DHEC's S.C. AIDS/STD Hotline at 1-800-322-AIDS (1-800-322-2437) or visit the DHEC Web site at: http://www.scdhec.gov/stdhiv.

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