When it comes to AIDS, the past few years have been a period of relative progress in the fight against the sexually transmitted, deadly disease. New types of anti-viral drugs have meant that sufferers are living longer, healthier, more productive lives. A diagnosis of HIV (the virus that causes AIDS – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is no longer an immediate death sentence.
However, in other parts of the world, the disease has reached pandemic proportions. Sub-Saharan Africa has been particularly ravaged by the disease. According to the BBC, 6,000 Africans die every day from the disease. And according to the same site, approximately 24.5 million people are infected with it in Africa, compared with 9.8 million people in the rest of the world.
It may be the case that many Americans feel isolated from the danger, but the numbers tell a different story, especially in the inner cities and urban centers of America. And it is for this issue that Oct. 15 has been designated as “National Latino AIDS Awareness Day.”
According to Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson, “Latinos are now the largest minority group in America. Though they represent only 14 percent of the U.S. population, they accounted for nearly 20 percent of new AIDS cases reported in the U.S. in 2001. In 2000, AIDS was the second leading cause of death among Latino men ages 35 to 44 and the fourth leading cause of death among Latino women in the same age group. Among pediatric AIDS cases reported in 2001, Latino children accounted for almost 15 percent of the total. These are staggering statistics and call for an immediate response by both the public and private sectors.”
It is in response to these shocking statistics that a gathering was held last week in the gymnasium at Union Hill High School in Union City that was designed to spread the word about the spread of the disease and what can be done to stop it.
Sponsored by a variety of local AIDS organizations, the event was designed primarily to get the message out to the young people of Union City that they must be careful and vigilant in protecting themselves from the disease.
It also endeavored to show the young people that it is very important to communicate with each other about it. The event featured live performances by a variety of acts. A local church band, break dancers, hip-hop performances, a Latino hard rock band and a Salsa dance company were all on hand to try to get the message out. The event was attended by Union City Mayor Brian Stack and Commissioner Christopher Irizarry. Stack read a proclamation making every Oct. 15 “Latino AIDS Awareness Day” in Union City.
Since Union City has a predominantly Latino population, Stack said he felt a special urgency to get the word out.
In a pre-ceremony interview, he said, “This is so important for the awareness factor. It is important that we educate the youth. Hopefully, by reaching them, we reach the families and have a really positive effect on getting the word out about AIDS to the Latino community.”
Continued Stack, “The Latino community has been so ravaged by this terrible disease. It really affects everyone.”
Union City Commissioner Christopher Irizarry, himself a Latino, takes the issue personally. Said Irizarry, “Our administration believes in shedding light on problems instead of ignoring them. If we educate the youth, we can help them.”
Irizarry then provided a shocking statistic that hits close to home: there are, according to Irizarry, 306 documented cases of HIV/AIDS infection in Union City alone (a city barely a mile square) and around 200 of those infections are in people of Latino decent.
There were, at the event, a number of AIDS outreach organizations on hand that were handing out literature and speaking to whomever was interested. One table was giving out issues of the AIDS awareness magazine “POZ”, which a few of the young Latinas could be seen perusing. Interestingly, none of the males present would go anywhere near the publications.
One of the organizations, known as “F.A.I.T.H. Services”, a part of the Bon Secours & Canterbury Partnership for Care Company of Hoboken, was present at the event and represented by Cesar Rivero. According to Rivero, the importance of events like last week’s cannot be understated. Said Rivero, “It is very important that everyone knows about this and for people to know that there are services that exist to help them. There are services that provide testing, housing, food and any help those that are infected may need. There is help out there. It is available.”