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Forum on HIV/AIDS shows why frank talks rarity
(cont. page 2)
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Of the estimated 40,000 new HIV infections each year, more than
50 percent occur among blacks, according to the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. AIDS is the leading cause of death
for black adults aged 25 to 44.
Blacks make up 8 percent of Kentucky's population but account for
37.3 percent of all AIDS cases and more than 34 percent of HIV cases
as of December 1999. In Daviess County, there were 52 HIV cases
and 24 AIDS cases. The county does not have a racial breakdown of
the cases.
Dr. Rice C. Leach, commissioner of the state Department for Public
Health, told the group that changing public health attitudes takes
a lot of time.
"It took 100 years to get tuberculosis from the No. 1 cause
of death to a rare disease," Leach said. "This problem
will take a lot of time."
HIV is spread mainly by unprotected sex and drug use.
Leach said stopping AIDS will depend upon changing behavior, not
changing people. Drug users must be taught to use clean needles,
he said. Sexually active people need to be taught to use condoms,
he said.
"You don't have to change people," Leach said. "You
change the way you do things."
But HIV and AIDS are not just black issues, Leach said.
"There's no such thing as your side of the canoe is leaking,"
Leach said. "We're all in this together."
Despite the presence of few blacks, Robertson said the forum was
a success. HIV and AIDS victims shared ideas and offered encouragement
for the task force's work, he said.
"We got a lot of support for what we are trying to accomplish,"
Robertson said. "If we can get input from one person, I consider
it a success. Last year, we had a forum and had three people there."
As the task force continues to hold public discussions about AIDS,
more blacks will enter the dialog, Robertson said.
"It's a slow process," Robertson said. "It is something
new to our community. We haven't had people come out and speak publicly
about AIDS."
(C) 2000 Messenger-Inquirer
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