By Denise Richardson
World AIDS Day comes once a year, but local officials said HIV and AIDS remain a health concern every day.
``It is still a real risk and a threat,'' said Debra Marcus, chief executive officer at Planned Parenthood of South Central New York.
Today, in recognition of World AIDS Day, Planned Parenthood is offering free confidential testing for HIV at local clinics in Oneonta, Sidney, Walton and Norwich. Testing is critical to early treatment and preventing the spread of the disease, Marcus said.
At the end of 2006, an estimated 1.1 million people nationwide were living with diagnosed or undiagnosed HIV/AIDS, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is the final stage of human immunodeficiency virus infection, and it can take years for someone infected with HIV to develop AIDS.
AIDS cases began to decrease in 1996, when new drugs became available, according to the CDC website, and now more people than ever are living with HIV/AIDS.
But the disease still is misunderstood, said Bill Pharr, an organizer of Positive Connections, a local support group for those infected with or affected by HIV or AIDS.
World AIDS Day is important because it not only increases awareness about HIV/AIDS, but also provides a time to remember those affected or who have died from the disease, Pharr said. Many people with AIDS or HIV ``hide'' their condition because of misunderstandings, he said.
Positive Connections meets on the last Saturday of every month in Oneonta, Pharr said. The group, which started in April, creates a safe environment for participants to share information and experiences, he said, and eight to 10 people have been attending the meetings, which offer activities to enjoy or educational programs.
The closest public World AIDS Day program is a drumming and jewelry event at Binghamton University in Vestal from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, presented by the Southern Tier AIDS Program. STAP's eight-county service area includes Otsego, Delaware and Chenango counties.
Marcus said Planned Parenthood offers HIV tests Monday through Saturday. Today, no appointments are needed, she said, and the walk-in program means one less barrier for people to be tested.
``We're going to make it as easy as possible,'' she said.
The rapid HIV test is a finger-prick procedure to produce a drop of blood, and results are ready in 20 minutes, according to a media release from Planned Parenthood, which is the anonymous HIV testing site for the public health departments of Otsego and Delaware counties. The state Department of Health reports that 50 people in Delaware County and 63 people in Otsego County have HIV or AIDS.
As many as one in three people with HIV don't know they are infected, Marcus said.
``Learning your HIV status is critical to protecting your own health as well as that of others,'' Marcus said in the release.
``When people know they're infected, they can get health care and medications to keep themselves health for years. In addition, they can prevent further spread of the disease,'' she said.
Planned Parenthood's educators will be on hand to answer questions, and free counseling on how to identify and reduce risks of HIV infection will be available.
Marcus said someone who tests positive will be referred to a health care provider for treatment.
Testing is key to early treatment and appropriate health care that can help lead to ``long and relatively healthy lives,'' she said.
Many programs in Otsego, Delaware, Chenango and Schoharie counties provide free or affordable health care, Marcus said, and a lack of health insurance shouldn't deter anyone from having tests or seeking treatment.
For more information, contact Positive Connections at 435-7248 or the Southern Tier AIDS Program at 432-6654 or (800) 333-0892.
Planned Parenthood is offering the testing and counseling from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at its clinics at 37 Dietz St., Oneonta; 37 Pleasant St., Sidney; 130 North St., Walton; and Eaton Center, Suite 208, 19 Eaton Ave., Norwich.
For more information, call (800) 230-7526.
