HIV/AIDS awareness conference held in Palm Springs
Several local organizations came together on Friday for National HIV/AIDS & Aging Awareness Day to help raise awareness of the valley’s aging population living with HIV/AIDS.
The “Aging Positively” conference hosted by the Desert Aid Project was held at the Mizell Senior Center in Palm Springs from 10 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
According to a 2015 report by Riverside County, 28.8 percent of all people living with HIV in the Coachella Valley are 60 or older.
From 2006 through 2015 over all of all HIV cases diagnosed in the valley are among adults 45 years and older.
While the average local person living with aids is 52.1 years, compared to 40.2 in the county.
The conference featured four speakers, a Q & A session and attendees were also served complimentary lunch.
Attendees were advised on how to pay for treatment and organizers encouraged the public to get tested, before it’s too late.
Eric Jannke, an AIDS/HIV survivor and activist says the illness can be manageable.
“This is a chronic, manageable illness you can take a couple of pills and then you don’t die the horrible death that is dying of aids, no one else needs to get HIV. I mean literally no one else.”
Another topic discussed was isolationism. Bruce Weiss of the Desert Aids Project says its vital for one to reach out for help.
For more information on the Desert Aids Project you can check their website here.
Information and resources for long-time HIV survivors can be found here.
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