World AIDS Day highlights AIDS/HIV Awareness

By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015

Every December 1^st is World AIDS Day to bring awareness to a disease that as of 2013 has killed more than 36 million people worldwide (1981-2012) and an estimated 35.3 million people are living with HIV. Of these, approximately 17.2 million are men, 16.8 million are women, and 3.4 million are less than 15 years old. There were about 1.8 million deaths from AIDS in 2010, down from 2.2 million in 2005.

World AIDS Day has been celebrated every year since 1988 and is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection and to mourn those who have died of the disease. Government and health officials, non-governmental organizations and individuals around the world observe the day, often with education on AIDS prevention and control.

Despite recent improved access to antiretroviral treatment in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claims an estimated 2 million lives each year, of which about 270,000 are children.

In Maverick County on an daily basis the Maverick County Hospital District through the Ryan White Program provides comprehensive health and social services to individuals affected by HIV/AIDS.

Ryan White Program Director William Worrell states that the government-led Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program works with cities, states, and local community-based organizations to provide services to an estimated 536,000 people each year who do not have sufficient health care coverage or financial resources to cope with HIV disease, including Maverick, Val Verde, Zavala, and Dimmit Counties.

The majority of Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program funds support primary medical care and essential support services. A smaller but equally critical portion is used to fund technical assistance, clinical training, and the development of innovative models of care.

The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, first authorized in 1990, is funded at $2.32 billion in fiscal year 2014. The Program is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), HIV/AIDS Bureau (HAB).

Bringing awareness and emphasizing prevention is important to minimizing the impact of the AIDS disease. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, from 2005 to 2014 there were 40 cases of HIV diagnosed in Maverick County. Dimmit County reported 5 HIV cases during the same period compared to Zavala County which had 8 HIV cases,and Val Verde County reported 20 HIV cases from 2005 to 2014.

The Texas 2014 HIV Surveillance Report shows that from 2005 to 2014 there have been 42,882 new HIV cases diagnosed in the State of Texas. In 2005, there were 4,330 new cases; in 2006, there were 3,976 cases; 4,119 cases in 2007; 4,178 cases in 2008; 4,370 cases during 2009; in 2010 there were 4,477 cases; 4,310 cases in 2011; 4,360 cases during 2012; 4,357 cases in 2013; and 4,405 new HIV cases diagnosed in 2014.

According to the Texas Department State Health Services’ (DSHS) 2014 Surveillance Report, Hispanic men accounted for 1,435 or 40.1% of the new 4,405 HIV diagnosis in 2014. Black males had 1,179 (32.9%) of the new HIV diagnosis and white males had 829 (23.0%) of new HIV Diagnosis in the State. Overall, the case rate for men decreased from 26.9 per 100,000 people in 2013 to 26.8 per 100, 000 people in 2014. Females only accounted for 823 of the new HIV cases diagnosed in the State. Black females had 470 cases followed by Hispanic females with 215 and 95 new HIV diagnosis cases for White females in 2014.

TDSHS Texas HIV 2014 Annual Surveillance report further shows that from 2005 to 2014 there were 25 AIDS diagnosis cases in Maverick County. Dimmit County had 5 cases, Zavala County had 4 cases, and Val Verde County had 14 HIV diagnosis cases from 2005 to 2014.

The 2014 Texas HIV Surveillance Report further show that of the 2,089 new AIDS cases diagnosed in the State, 1,604 of them were males and 485 were females.

The TDSHS Report also shows that through December 31,2014 there are 70 people from Maverick County living with HIV and 94 cumulative HIV diagnosis.

As of 2014, there were 390 new HIV diagnosis reported in Health Service Region 8 which includes Maverick County and 19 new AIDS cases reported. There is also 6,450 people in Region 8 living with HIV and 9,994 Cumulative HIV diagnosis.

During 2012, there were 172 new AIDS cases diagnosed within the 32 Texas border counties, of which 161 were reported in the 15 counties immediately adjacent to the U.S.-Mexican Border (Brewster, Cameron, El Paso, Hidalgo, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Kinney, Maverick, Presidio, Starr, Terrell, Val Verde, Webb, Zapata and Willacy). AIDS cases diagnosed in the 32 border counties represent 5% of the total number of cases in the State of Texas.

If you have any questions or need assistance with HIV/AIDS disease, please call William Worrell at the Maverick County Hospital District/Ryan White Program at (830) 757-4937 or visit them at their offices located at 3406 Bob Rogers Drive, Suite 290, in Eagle Pass, Texas.