KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana |HIV/AIDS 25 Years Later

HIV/AIDS 25 Years Later

Twenty-five years ago today the first diagnosis unveiled the AIDS epidemic.
Today forty million people world wide are living with HIV/AIDS and thousands die daily.
Advocates say the situation is serious right here in the Ark-La-Tex.
Sylvia McIntyre, Philadelphia Center, in the last sixty days at the Philadelphia Center we have seen more people test positive than we have in the 15 years or so that I've been doing this that is a lot for me because I was even overwhelmed by that."
We spoke with some of the AIDS advocates on the front lines of the battle in the Ark-La-Tex..including workers from the Philadelphia center and the brotherhood task force of Northwest Louisiana.
They offer free testing with OraQuick..which uses saliva and gives results in 20 minutes...along with counseling and education on avoiding the disease. 
James Cass, Philadelphia Center, "We travel the nine different parishes and we're putting the message out there. We're also giving out education leaflets and pamphlets. Our primary targets right now are the young black females because they are mostly at risk."
Today women in general are most at risk of getting HIV..the virus once associated with homosexual men and drug users. 
And better medicines called cocktails have patients taking one or two pills instead of twenty or thirty per day. 
Virginia Player, Philadelphia Center, "The meds kept them so messed up now they're beginning to live longer and better lives."
Cedric Murphy, Brotherhood Task Force of Northwest LA, "It's not a death sentence anymore. At first people thought the virus was going to immediately kill people. Now with the medicines and people actually getting tested they're able to receive services before the onset of an opportunistic infection which usually makes them very ill."
Advocates agree testing, awareness and education are the keys to turning the AIDS epidemic around. 
Fred Ellis, Brotherhood Task Force of Northwest Louisiana, "You'd be surprised 25 years people still are unaware of this pandemic and I think we need to get these kids at a very young age to start discussing this topic as early as elementary school."
Rev. Dr. Emanuel McIntyre, "Even the faith based community they got it in their minds I can't catch this disease. We have to step up to the place and educate people that they're putting themselves at risk."
HIV is spread by blood or body fluids usually through sex or sharing drug needles.
Advocates urge everyone to know their HIV/AIDS status.
National HIV testing day is June 27th.