Dec 1, 2008 7:30 pm US/Eastern
World AIDS Day: Miami-Dade #1 In State For AIDS
20th Annual World AIDS Day Observed In More Than 220 Countries
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Today is World AIDS Day, a day when individuals and organizations from around the world come together to bring attention to the global AIDS epidemic. In addition, 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day.
Florida ranks third in the nation in the number of persons living with AIDS. There have been nearly 110-thousand AIDS cases reported in Florida. The rate of new infections per 100,000 in 2007 among African Americans was more than six times the rate among whites and nearly four times the rate among Hispanics. Although African Americans comprise 14-percent of Florida's population, they accounted for 49-percent of new HIV infections. In other words, nearly half of all Floridians living with HIV/AIDS are black, and 40-percent are gay or bisexual men, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Testing for HIV/AIDS has come a long way over the last few years. Ed Lake told
CBS4 reporter Ted Scouten with today's testing it takes just minutes to learn if the results are positive or negative. Lake, who said he does his testing at the Wilton Manors
"Out of the Closet" Thrift Store/AHF Pharmacy, said he's living proof that having HIV is no longer a death sentence.
"Who would have thought back in 1989 when I found out I was positive I'd be alive today," said Lake.
Lake says he takes medication daily to keep his T cells up and his viral load down. He said it works well for him and millions of others who are living with HIV/AIDS.
"Twenty years ago I never thought that I'd live to be 30, I just turned 41 in June," said Lake.
Miami-Dade County ranks first in the state in the number of AIDS cases. In 2007, 811 AIDS cases were reported which brings the cumulative total to 31,038 through 2007. From the total number of AIDS cases, 52-percent are among blacks, 14-percent are among whites, and 33-percent are among Hispanics. There were also 1,450 HIV cases reported in Miami-Dade in 2007 and there are more than 24-thousand people living with HIV in Miami-Dade County.
Nearly half (42-percent) of all AIDS cases in Florida reside in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
To help bring attention to the AIDS epidemic and commemorate World AIDS Day, Miami Mayor Manny Diaz will hold a candlelight memorial and tree lighting ceremony at the Miami Riverside Center, 444 S.W. 2nd Avenue at 5:00 p.m.
There will also be a World AIDS Day special event featuring singers, dancers, youth skits, a candlelight walk and health fair at Huizenga Plaza, East Las Olas Boulevard at Andrews Avenue in Fort Lauderdale from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Another candlelight vigil will take place at Richardson Park, 1937 Wilton Drive, and end a few blocks away at the Shoppes of Wilton Manors. After the march, there's a rally, singers, speakers and HIV testing starts at 7:30 p.m.
AIDS has claimed the lives of more than 25 million people since 1981. There are roughly 33.2 million people estimated to be living with HIV or AIDS around the globe. In addition, the World Health Organization reports that more than 6,800 people worldwide are infected with HIV every day.
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that approximately 1 million Americans are living with HIV/AIDS with an estimated 25-percent unaware of their diagnosis.
For more information on AIDS statistics in Broward or to find an AIDS/HIV testing location, check out the
Broward County Health Department website.
For more information on AIDS statistics in Miami-Dade, or to find an AIDS/HIV testing location, check out the
Miami-Dade County Health Department.
The
Florida Department of Health website also has important AIDS information.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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