Today is World AIDS Day, when Central New York and communities around the globe remember the millions who died while also celebrating survival and medical advances. One agency continues to raise awareness.
ACR Health CEO Lisa Alford said we’ve come a long way since the height of the AIDS epidemic. While there are some long-term survivors, others continue to get infected.
“It can seem like it's in the rearview mirror, but that's not the case," Alford said. "There’s still stigma that's attached to it. Many people are living with AIDS and HIV as a chronic disease, but persons who were around at the height of the AIDS lost many or all of their friends during that time…also people that survived, the resilience.”
Alford said that’s due in large part to advances in medication and treatment. But she said there’s a continued need to raise awareness among certain communities that are more vulnerable to infection.
“We still have disproportionate impact of new AIDS cases in black and brown communities, in some parts of the LGBTQ plus community, trans women, also our rural communities," Alford said. "Making sure that people are still aware that they can be at risk and how important testing is, knowing their status.”
Alford said they often find those at risk of becoming infected tend to think it’s other people who are at risk. That’s why she said ACR continues to tailor it’s outreach efforts to fit the specific needs of each community they serve across nine counties. The agency is holding two World AIDS Day events this week. One is Wednesday in Syracuse and the other is Thursday in Utica.
