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SIERRA VISTA — Raising money for AIDS patients is important, but the best way to prevent the disease is by getting tested for HIV, AIDS walk organizers said Saturday.
Free HIV testing was offered at the walk and health awareness event at Len Roberts Park, along with blood sugar, blood pressure checks and nutrition counseling from doctors, said Lydia Montoya, who is with the Housing Authority of Cochise County’s HOPWA program.
The “rapid test” — a mouth swab sample that takes about 20 minutes to process — was offered free and confidentially, Montoya said.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates more than a million Americans are living with HIV. About 130 people in the county and about 12,000 people in Arizona are living with HIV/AIDS, Montoya said.
 Local residents participate in the 2nd Annual Aids Walk and Health Fair at Len Roberts Park Saturday in Sierra Vista. The walk raised funds to help Chiricahua Health Centers, as well as allowed people to get free, confidential tests. Organizers said more people participated in the event. (Mark Levy-Herald/Review) |
But about 25 percent of people with HIV aren’t even aware they have the virus, said Margaret Hartnett, case manager for the Ryan White program in Cochise County.
“They’re responsible for the 40,000 more people affected each year,” she said.
How often someone should be tested depends on their lifestyle, but everyone should be tested to help prevent the virus from spreading, she said.
“It’s not a curable disease, but it’s a preventable one,” Hartnett said.
In Arizona, the fastest growing new infection rate is among African American women, said R.J. Shannon, minority AIDS coordinator for the Arizona Department of Health Services.
“It’s very much a women’s health issue today,” Harnett said.
Events such as the AIDS walk aim at sharing that information and other AIDS education across the county.
This year, the walk gained more support across the county.
The event tripled in participation from the previous year’s walk, with more than 50 participants and speakers, including from students from Town and Country Elementary School and Sierra Vista Mayor Bob Strain, Montoya said.
Harnett said sponsor support also was stronger and came from Abbott-Virology, Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Douglas Stronger Families Council, Greater Huachuca Area NAACP Branch, Housing Authority of Cochise County-HOPWA, Oasis Water Co., Southeastern Arizona Behavioral Health Services, Southeast Arizona HIV/AIDS CARE Consortium and Sparkletts Water.
The money raised at the walk will go to the Chiricahua Health Centers to help clients living with AIDS.
For free HIV testing, call 432-8889. For information about the services offered by the Cochise County Ryan White program, call 432-8893.
HERALD/REVIEW reporter Laura Ory can be reached at 515-4683 or by e-mail at laura.ory@svherald.com.
Huh wrote on Oct 14, 2007 8:03 AM: