AIDS vaccine is closer
As much as I hate the metaphor, it's a perfect storm for this potentially fatal disease.
Unprecedented progress in HIV-related research looms against a torrent of increasing numbers and failing funds. The biggest category increase of AIDS in Idaho may surprise you: It's women. In Idaho the number of women testing positive for HIV in the last eight years has increased by 67 percent.
Over the past year, scientists have identified special antibodies against HIV. These antibodies could be the foundation of a preventive vaccine. They need more research with long-term clinical trials on humans, but federal funding is dwindling. Meanwhile, North Idaho's disproportionate share of people who live with HIV/AIDS - 40 percent of statewide cases - need support and clinical services.
The North Idaho AIDS Coalition is a nonprofit, community-based agency that has provided care, prevention, and advocacy to those infected or affected by HIV/AIDS since 1989. NIAC offers case management, testing, drug and treatment assistance, support, and education. Their annual wine-tasting and fundraiser, "A Night in the Garden of Good and Medieval," is on Oct. 16, 5 to 9 p.m. at North Idaho College.
A few disturbing statistics from NIAC's executive director, Dani Clarkson:
* Every 10 seconds someone dies from AIDS.
* One in five Americans living with HIV is unaware of it. This is especially tragic as most cases are treatable if caught in time. NIAC and Panhandle Health District offer confidential testing.
* Forty percent of Idaho's HIV-positive individuals live in Idaho's five northern counties. One of the growth suspects is meth; users commonly share needles.
* In Idaho, new cases have outnumbered HIV/AIDS deaths every year since 1984. Two thirds of women (the largest growth category) diagnosed from 2003 to 2007 were aged 20 to 39.
* Youths aged 13 to 24 account for 15 percent of diagnoses during the same years.
A story in Saturday's Press reported the failure of abstinence-only programs in schools. Parents hate to think of it, but our kids take more risks than we'd like and they're starting earlier. Despite better education, they continue to rely on myths about what is and isn't safe. NIAC tries to spread the facts with health fairs, presentations, and community outreach.
To buy tickets to the Oct. 16 event call Dani at (208) 665-1448. Medieval costumes are encouraged, but optional. It is almost Halloween.
Sholeh Patrick is an attorney and a columnist for the Hagadone News Network. E-mail sholehjo@hotmail.com