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"HIV/AIDS continues to have the greatest impact on men who have sex
with men, with African-Americans being the most disproportionately
affected," Whitaker said. "Numerous gains have been made in HIV/AIDS
treatments, but there are still advancements we need to work toward.
This year's conference will review all of these issues to help
prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS and STDs." This year's
conference speakers include Dr. Mervyn Silverman, former president
and spokesman of the American Foundation for AIDS Research and
current chairman of its Global Initiatives Committee; Dr. Kurt
Organista, who researches HIV/AIDS prevention with Mexican and
Latino migrant laborers; Dr. Thomas Farley, who has researched and
published articles on prevention of HIV and STDs; Pernessa Seele,
founder and chief executive officer of The Balm in Gilead Inc., an
organization that addresses life-threatening diseases such as
HIV/AIDS; and Todd Ahlbery, creator of "Meth," a documentary film
illuminating the crystal methamphetamine culture within the gay
community.
"This conference brings together the state's top public health
professionals and front-line staff fighting HIV/AIDS every day in
communities across our state," said Mark Ishaug, executive director
of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago. "HIV prevention and care is a
rapidly evolving field; these learning opportunities ensure we stay
focused and current on the best strategies to curb this epidemic."
Conference topics include:
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"Rural MSM" (men who
have sex with men)
-
"Labor Migration and
STD/HIV/AIDS: Thinking Globally and Acting Locally"
-
"State of Emergency
in the Black MSM Community"
-
"Sexuality, Social
Norms and STD Prevention"
-
"Bisexuality: The
Trends Among Teens"
-
"Crystal
Methamphetamines"
-
"Preventing Chlamydia
and Gonorrhea Re-infections: Medical and Social Strategies"
-
"Aging with HIV"
-
"HIV and Women's
Health"
-
"Syphilis
Transmission, Staging, Treatment, Complications and Co-infection
with HIV"
During 2005, a total of 50,559 cases of chlamydia were reported
in Illinois, making it the most frequently reported infectious
disease. Females accounted for 75 percent (37,672 of 50,559) of
reported cases, and adolescents 15 to 19 years of age were
disproportionately affected, accounting for 34 percent (17,294 of
50,559) of all reported cases. The Department of Public Health
encourages health care providers to test all sexually active females
15 to 24 years of age at least annually for chlamydia. In
collaboration with school-based health centers, family planning
clinics, adult and juvenile correctional centers, and other agencies
serving females at increased risk for chlamydia infection, the
Department of Public Health performed more than 220,000 tests for
chlamydia in order to halt disease transmission by identifying and
treating infected people.
The Department of Public Health ensures STD diagnostic and
treatment services are accessible throughout Illinois; monitors and
responds to sexually transmitted disease trends, ensuring that
people infected with STDs receive appropriate treatment, counseling
and referral; conducts screening programs; provides funds to prevent
and contain STDs through innovative community-based initiatives,
such as the Champaign-Urbana Health Department's mobile health vans
and the Howard Brown Health Center's outreach testing and education
services in suburban Cook County; provides vaccinations for
hepatitis A and B to people attending STD clinics; and provides
technical assistance and training to health care providers regarding
STD testing, treatment and follow-up.
[to top of second column]
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 There has been a recent rise in syphilis cases in Illinois,
especially in the Chicago area. The increase in infectious syphilis
is disproportionately affecting males. Men account for 91 percent of
all syphilis reported cases last year, and men self-reporting as men
who have sex with men represent 76 percent of all cases among males.
"I am very concerned about this increase in syphilis because
untreated syphilis can lead to serious long-term complications and
death," Whitaker said. "Also, persons infected with infectious
syphilis can more easily acquire or transmit the HIV. During 2005,
52 percent of cases of infectious syphilis among men who have sex
with men were co-infected with HIV. Persons infected with both
syphilis and HIV also are more likely to develop complications from
their syphilis and HIV infection. IDPH recommends all sexually
active persons infected with HIV should be tested for syphilis and
other STDs at least annually."
As of August 2006, there were 30,408 people in Illinois living
with HIV/AIDS: 14,878 with HIV and 15,530 with AIDS.
Currently in Illinois the highest mode of transmission of
HIV/AIDS is men who have sex with men. African-Americans remain the
ethnic group most affected by HIV/AIDS.
To address the increase of HIV/AIDS in the African-American
community and decrease the racial disparity, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich
launched the Brothers And Sisters United Against HIV/AIDS campaign
on Sept. 15, 2005. BASUAH
focuses on education, prevention and testing, and it targets
African-Americans to specifically address the increase in HIV/AIDS
cases reported within that community.
One element of BASUAH is the Wellness on Wheels mobile health
van. Over the last year the van has stopped in 57 locations across
the state. Visitors to the Wellness van can receive health
screenings, including HIV, hepatitis B and C, and prostate
screenings as well as blood pressure and cholesterol tests. People
visiting the van receive their HIV testing results within half an
hour because of HIV/AIDS rapid testing rules the state adopted on
Feb. 3. Approximately 2,300 HIV tests have been administered in the
Wellness van, with additional tests being performed at outside
locations.
The state has also worked with African-American churches and
their youth ministries to establish peer networks that encourage HIV
testing as part of the BASUAH campaign. Approximately 70
congregations have distributed BASUAH literature.
Programs targeting communities of color, which include
African-Americans, Hispanics and Asians, are a top priority of the
state's HIV/AIDS prevention efforts. For fiscal 2007, the governor
has budgeted $3.2 million for AIDS prevention through the Department
of Public Health's Centers for Minority Health Services.
Blagojevich boosted funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program
by $2.5 million in fiscal 2007, to a total of $41 million, in order
to allow more people with HIV or AIDS who meet eligibility
requirements to be served and to increase access to life-sustaining
medicines.
Blagojevich also signed
House Bill 4302, sponsored by state Rep. Sara Feigenholtz,
D-Chicago, which adds HIV/AIDS to the list of diseases covered under
the Illinois Cares Rx
program. The program provides prescription drug assistance to
low-income seniors and people with disabilities who have certain
illnesses or conditions.
For more information, call the Illinois HIV/AIDS and STD
toll-free line, 1-800-243-2437, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-11 p.m., and
weekends, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; or visit
http://www.idph.state.il.us/.
[Illinois
Department of Public Health news release] |
