Department of Health Promotes HIV/AIDS Prevention
Monday, November 24, 2008 | 09:04am
NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Health urges Tennesseans to observe the 21st annual World AIDS Day on December 1, 2008 by making sure they know their HIV status. This year’s slogan is “Lead-Empower-Deliver,” stressing the message that everyone can take part in leading the fight against this disease, become empowered with information and work to see that the promise of stopping the pandemic is delivered.
“To stop the spread of HIV/AIDS all people must know their HIV status, feel empowered to access treatment, know their rights and take action against stigma and discrimination,” said Veronica Gunn, MD, chief medical officer for the Department of Health. “It is also crucial that everyone who is sexually active is knowledgeable of and uses methods of prevention against receiving or transmitting HIV.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates there are now about 1.1 million people in the United States living with HIV, and that of that number, one in five is unaware of his or her status. People who are unaware that they are HIV-positive are responsible for transmitting 50 to 70 percent of new infections.
Tennessee has not escaped the pandemic of HIV/AIDS, with cases reported in every county of our state. Figures through the end of 2007 show 21,358 Tennessee residents have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Of this number, 14,349 Tennesseans are currently living with HIV/AIDS, and to date there have been 7,009 deaths among Tennesseans infected with this virus. Department of Health statistics show that African Americans are the most disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS in Tennessee; 64 percent of the total reported HIV/AIDS cases in Tennessee in 2007 were among this population.
The Department of Health and many community partners throughout the state are committed to reducing the number of new HIV infections in Tennessee.
“Routine HIV testing so that everyone knows their status is critical; it’s the first step in controlling the HIV pandemic,” said Jeanece Seals, Department of Health HIV/AIDS/STD section director. “I encourage everyone to take a leadership role in his or her own health by getting tested and by encouraging their friends, neighbors and family to get tested. Know your status.”
A person may feel perfectly healthy for several years after becoming infected with HIV, and may be at risk for passing the virus on to others. The only way to know for certain if an individual is infected with HIV is to be tested.
The Department of Health offers confidential HIV testing at all county health department clinics, which also provide counseling with a trained health care provider both before and after an HIV test. To find your local county health department, visit the TDOH Web site at http://health.state.tn.us/localdepartments.htm.
Other sites that offer HIV tests can be found online at www.HIVtest.org. Mobile phone users can send a text message with their zip code to “KNOWIT’ (566948); within seconds they will receive a text message identifying a testing site near them.
For more information about planned World AIDS Day activities, call the HIV/AIDS Hotline toll-free at 1-800-525-2437, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Central time.