South Arkansas Fights AIDS commemorates World AIDS Day

Once again, South Arkansas Fights AIDS in El Dorado will commemorate World AIDS Day, which is held each year on Dec. 1, with a candlelight service at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the chapel of First United Methodist Church, 201 S. Hill St., El Dorado.

Pastor David Bush will share a message and light refreshments will be served following the service.

World AIDS Day is held every year on the first day of December and was named to draw attention to the current status of the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic worldwide, said Janet Beane, executive director of SAFA. HIV is one of the biggest social, economic and health challenges in the world, she said.

“HIV is preventable,” Beane said, explaining that SAFA’s mission is to provide free, oral HIV testing (with results in 20 minutes), HIV prevention education programs and direct services to those infected with and/or affected by the disease. “If you have a friend or family member who is living with HIV/AIDS, or you simply want to show that you care, join SAFA in recognizing World AIDS Day. The goal of World AIDS Day is to raise awareness, provide education and fight prejudice. It is a reminder that the epidemic has not gone away.”

“Education and action make a difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS. It is important that people know about the disease and the risk factors that contribute to contracting HIV. Those who think they have had a risk should be tested,” she said.

Free, oral HIV tests are given at SAFA, 526 W. Faulkner, El Dorado. For more information or to schedule an appointment for a test, call the SAFA office at 870-875-2099.

In addition to testing and education, SAFA also provides direct services to help people living with HIV/AIDS, including a monthly food pantry and assistance with utility bills, co-pay for prescriptions (other than HIV/ AIDS medicines) and gas for travel to doctors’ offices. SAFA also purchases nutritional supplements

for clients.

As of October, SAFA has served over 774 people.

According to the Center for Disease Control, an estimated one in seven people with HIV in the United States do not know they are infected. Testing and early diagnosis are essential to stopping the spread of this disease, Beane said. In a recent report, the CDC said one in six new HIV infections are in people over 50; one in five are under 25 and one in four are women.

The Arkansas Department of Health reported that in 2017, the Southwest Public Health Region, which includes Union County, had 12 new AIDS cases and 40 new HIV cases. Throughout the state, there were 152 new cases of AIDS and 254 new HIV cases reported. In Arkansas in 2017, there were 137 new HIV cases among blacks; 102 new HIV cases among whites; 13 new cases in the Hispanic population and two in other groups.

Everyone is invited to attend the World AIDS Day service in El Dorado on Saturday.