Dr. Rachel Levine, the state’s physician general, made that promise to an audience of advocates and people affected by HIV and AIDS on Tuesday while commemorating World AIDS Day.
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Every December 1 is reserved as World AIDS Day to show support for those living with the chronic illness and for those who lost their battle.
She added that since the epidemic’s peak in 2004, the number of deaths has fallen by 42 per cent, with some 7.8 million lives being saved over the last 15 years.
Bolivia’s first case of HIV/AIDS was identified in 1984; authorities revealed that today there are now 14,887 people living with the virus, the majority of them young people.
While the volunteers received a warm welcome from most people, the executive director of AIDS Moncton, Debbie Warren, says there is still a stigma attached to HIV and AIDS.
The Allen County Health Department does from 1,000 to 1,500 HIV tests per year. However, he said the disease is still deadly and according to the CDC it has killed 13,712 in 2012, the most recent year the data was available.
“It gets people talking about HIV and AIDS”, he said.
“We are trying to make people aware that its very simple, and just give them the steps in order to keep from getting infected”, said HIV and AIDS Educator, Dan Rodriguez.
Barry said a person who is HIV positive, but is receiving proper treatment, is much less likely to pass on the virus.
In 2014, YAP provided 289 free rapid HIV tests, which are accompanied by prevention counseling and referral to community partners. An additional 60 percent of HIV infections are transmitted by people who have HIV diagnoses but no treatments.
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‘We must target our efforts to reduce HIV-related health disparities and focus increased attention on highly vulnerable populations’.
