World AIDS Day: Seattle
Seattle ONE took part on World AIDS Day 2008 with Snohomish County RESULTS, the Snohomish County Health District and The Lifelong AIDS Alliance, as well as local, regional, national, and international AIDS prevention and treatment organizations to commemorate the day. With over 100 people in attendance, the evening started with a vigil march in a light drizzle down the road to the county’s AIDS memorial (only memorial of this kind in Washington State). There was also music by the local group Real Folk, a candlelight moment of silence, and networking with those who are HIV Positive, to encourage hope for a cure in our lifetime.
Speakers included Dr. Gary Goldbaum, director of the Snohomish Health District, and Teresa Rugg, a Snohomish County resident who spoke of her insights into the connection between HIV and tuberculosis in Africa. As Dr. Sanjay Gupta of CNN recently stated, in this day and age, TB somewhere in the world could quickly become TB anywhere in the world. Education and awareness is a frontline defense in preventing an epidemic. And evenings like this bring us together so those afflicted, and those close to those afflicted, needn’t feel so alone.
As Dr. Goldbaum told the local newspaper, The Everett Herald, “Locally our concern is preventing tuberculosis and HIV coming together. We are always on guard and encourage screening for HIV but we are always sensitive about TB and HIV together.”
An airborne disease, tuberculosis is particularly dangerous for those infected with HIV. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated one-third of those living with HIV are also infected with tuberculosis, and it’s responsible for nearly half of all AIDS deaths.
“People that are HIV positive can get started on medication and not develop AIDS for a long time,” Goldbaum said. “But we have new cases of HIV and AIDS — we are not doing enough. They are preventable.”
-Sammi Fredenburg
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December 5, 2008 at 4:54 am
On an interesting note:
Education on HIV and AIDS is only part of the battle. The rest of this is up to the people as a whole. They are the ones that can and have to stop this. Unfortunately, we can’t hold their hands after we teach them. They have to make that decision(s) on their own.
December 5, 2008 at 11:52 am
Representing RESULTS and the TB PhotoVoice Project, I was honored to speak at this event. I know we will sustain the leadership and commitment necessary to address HIV and TB locally and around the globe. Thank you to those who have worked tirelessly in the HIV field for decades….you have made a difference in so many lives. To those contemplating action…jump in! There is room for us all to speak up! The ONE Campaign and RESULTS are two organizations that will fully support you.
RESULTS http://www.RESULTS.org
Tb PhotoVoice Project http://www.tbphotovoice.org
December 5, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Thank you for this article. I did attend last year and was unable to make it this year. I am glad the turnout is increasing.
December 6, 2008 at 2:02 am
Thanks Sammi for advocating this effort to provide universal prevention and treatment towards diseases like HIV/ AIDS and TB both locally and around the globe, and for letting fellow Americans know what needs to be done to help others. It’s not easy being on the side your on, asking your community to stand up, recognize these issues, and call for a deeper commitment to keeping the promise and putting an end to HIV / AIDS. However it must be done if for no other reason than it is the right thing to do. Thanks for doing it.
December 8, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Stay engaged and help spread AIDS awareness in our state! Register now for AIDS Awareness & Action Day 2009 to join us on Wednesday, February 18 in Olympia!
Every two years, advocates from across Washington State gather in Olympia to educate state lawmakers about the need for HIV/AIDS prevention and care services in our state.
Join us!
More info http://lifelongaidsalliance.org/aidsactionday