The Philadelphia Center - Northwest Louisiana AIDS Resource Center

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NATIONAL HIV TESTING DAY IS JUNE 27^TH

Now in its tenth year, National HIV Testing Day is Sunday, June 27^th. National HIV Testing Day was established in 1995 in response to the growing number of HIV infections that occur throughout the United States each year. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. The ongoing theme of National Testing Day is "It’s Better to Know - Take the Test - Take Control," which encourages people to learn their HIV status through confidential testing for the HIV antibody. For the estimated quarter of a million Americans who do not know that they are infected with HIV, taking the test could save their lives.

Over 24,000 cases of HIV/AIDS have been diagnosed and reported in Louisiana since the state began tracking cases in 1985. Today there are over 15,470 Louisianians living with HIV/AIDS. The CDC estimates that there may be over 4,000 HIV positive people in Louisiana who do not know they are infected. In an effort to make the test available to the residents of Northwest Louisiana, the Region 7 Community Planning Group is announcing a number of testing opportunities sponsored by collaborating agencies during the week of June 21 – 27, 2004. Collaborating agencies include the Philadelphia Center, the Brotherhood Task Force of Northwest Louisiana, Bilberry Community Center and Park (SPAR), the Region VII HIV Consortium, the Southside Riders, the ‘Stanger Boys and Babes Mustang Club, Christ the King Catholic Church, Faith United Methodist Church, and the YWCA of Northwest Louisiana.

Testing events throughout the week include:

An evening of games and fun at Central Station, 1025 Marshall Street from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 21 (Contact - Sylvia Green-McIntyre at 318-222-6633)
"Christian Relationships and AIDS – What is Our Responsibility?" – an education and testing event for young adults at Christ the King Catholic Church, 425 McCormick, Bossier City from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 23 (Contact – Marilu Rodriguez at 318-865-9817)
"HIV Information & Testing Day" at Southern University in the Science Lecture Hall from 9:00 until noon on Thursday, June 24 (Contact - Sylvia Green-McIntyre at 318-222-6633)
"HIV testing at Faith United Methodist Church, 6806 Southern Avenue from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 25 (Contact - Cedric Murphy at 318-294-2025)
"Health and Family Day in the Park" at C. C. Anton Park, Milam Street, Shreveport from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 26. HIV testing will be offered at the YWCA at 700 Pierre Street (Contact – Amy Beert at 318-222-2116, ext 21)
The Southside Riders sponsored benefit motorcycle ride from the Philadelphia Center, 2020 Centenary to Bilberry Community Center and Park (SPAR), 1902 Alabama. Registration will begin at the Philadelphia Center at 2:00 p.m. with the ride starting at 2:30. At the Community Center there will be free HIV testing, a co-ed basketball tournament and entertainment by local groups Legacy and NHB (Contact - Sylvia Green-McIntyre at 318-222-6633)

Testing will utilize the Ora-Sure device, an oral swab. No needles will be used and no blood will be drawn. The results will be available in two weeks.

The HIV Virus is passed from one person to another through contact with bodily fluids, such as blood. HIV is primarily transmitted through unprotected sex with an HIV positive person or by sharing a needle or syringe with a person infected with HIV. In addition, an HIV infected pregnant woman can pass the virus to her baby during pregnancy or delivery, as well as through breast-feeding.

In over two decades since AIDS was first recognized great strides have been made in treating HIV and preventing or treating the infections that can accompany it. While there is still no cure, people living with HIV have more and better health care options than ever before. Thanks to these advances, many are living longer and healthier lives than seemed possible even a few short years ago.

These encouraging developments mean little to someone who is unaware that they are infected with HIV. Far too many people still learn that they have HIV late in their infection – once illness has appeared, missing years of opportunity for early care and treatment.

The impact of the AIDS epidemic on African Americans continues to grow disproportionately. Despite declines in AIDS deaths among all racial/ethnic groups between 1995 and 1998, AIDS mortality rates remain nearly ten times higher among African Americans than among whites. As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report through June 1999:

AIDS death rates remain nearly 10 times higher among African-Americans than among whites
African-Americans constitute approximately 12% of the U. S. population, yet represent more than half (54%) of the estimated 40,000 new HIV infections each year in the U.S.
Latinos constitute approximately 14% of the U. S. population yet represent more than 19% of the estimated 40,000 new HIV infections each year in the U.S.
An estimated 30% of new HIV infections are found in women.
Among women, African Americans represent 64% of new AIDS cases and Latinas represent 17%.
People under age 25 years are estimated to make up at least half of all new HIV infections occurring in the United States
African-American youth represent 64% of new AIDS cases among 13 – 19 year olds, Latinos represent 30% of this age group.
Teenage girls account for 54% of all new AIDS cases among teenagers.
Men who have sex with men continue to represent the largest number of new infection cases, accounting for more than 42% of new HIV infections reported in the U. S.

Louisiana ranks 5^th highest in AIDS case rates and 10^th in the number of AIDS cases reported in 2002. 24,222 HIV/AIDS cases were detected in Louisiana as of March 31, 2004. The metropolitan Baton Rouge area has ranked highest of Louisiana cities for AIDS case rates and is tied with Miami ranking 2^nd highest among U. S. cities. The greater New Orleans area is ranked 7^th in AIDS case rates among U. S. cities.

In the nine parishes in Northwest Louisiana that comprise the Office of Public Health’s Region 7, as of March 31, 2004, there were 1070 persons living with HIV. 706 of them live in Caddo Parish. 74 percent of the cases in the region are men with 26 percent of the cases in women. 63 percent of those living with HIV in Region 7 are African-American. Whites account for 36 percent. Hispanics and American Indians account for 1 percent each.

Prevention, education and outreach efforts remain the number one message for the prevention of HIV. Participating in HIV counseling and testing programs can provide the basic information in taking control. The Philadelphia Center offers free confidential or anonymous testing daily at their office, 2020 Centenary Avenue. Call 318-222-6633 to schedule a time. HIV testing is also available at all Parish Health Units.

For more information about National HIV Testing Day activities contact the Philadelphia Center at 318-222-6633 or 1-866-513-2863. Information is also available from the Louisiana Statewide HIV/AIDS Hotline at 1-800-992-4379 (1-800-99-AIDS9).