Remember World AIDS Day

Imagine that when you read the Bangor Daily News tomorrow, the headline states: “Epidemic hits town of Kenduskeag, entire population stricken with death-wish illness.”

That’s right, every man, woman and child is infected with a well-known disease that is almost guaranteed to take their lives prematurely. In the case of Kenduskeag, it would be about 1,171 people (the town’s population according to census data); but it could just as

easily be Dixmont, Frankfort, Patten, Steuben or Trenton.

These and dozens of other communities in Maine have populations of about 1,000 to 1,500 people. This is also the number of people in Maine who are currently living with HIV-AIDS; lest we forget any time, but particularly today: World AIDS Day.

I have a friend who is living with AIDS. His current situation is that his disease means a regular regimen of drugs, occasional illness, and chronic fatigue. He goes about his daily life with as normal a routine as he can muster up. “John” had good support from the Coastal AIDS Network (CAN); however, the recent closure of this AIDS Service Organization (ASO) has meant a significant shift for him, especially when it comes to the need for personal counseling and emotional support. These are clearly part of his medicine and health.

John’s services are supposedly being covered now by Dayspring in Augusta. He and I recently talked about public perceptions, prejudice, ignorance, and fear that cause for us to be living in a culture where this subject is just not talked about.

John has great faith, and he also believes the people of Maine possess and support “a great humanity.” It is John’s eternal optimism that is also a significant part of his daily recovery program. So aside from the frequent doctor’s visits and bouts with pneumonia, decaying muscle tissue, and the nausea and diarrhea, John states, “I’m one of the lucky guys.”

Over the past 18 years, statisticians have been monitoring the incidence of HIV diagnoses; last year there were 45 new cases officially registered through the various means of tracking. The annual trend of new HIV cases in Maine has been pretty steady for about 10 years. It is most important to note that between one-quarter and one-third of those infected with HIV are unaware of their status. However, funding for community-based prevention activities has decreased, limiting the number of community workers testing Mainers.

In 2004, 48 percent of those testing positive with HIV were simultaneously diagnosed with AIDS, indicating they’d been infected with HIV for years before testing. These statistics are conservative, as many individuals are unwilling to be open about the disease and the cure, consistent with our cultural norms. The CDC “know your status” initiative is a focus in Maine for 2005. This increased emphasis on testing is likely to result in even larger numbers of people being diagnosed and needing services.

It is time we all came out of the closet. We need to view the HIV-AIDS epidemic in conjunction with, and as part of, a larger context. It is one of many sexually transmitted diseases, and it is also one of many life-threatening, life-altering illnesses that affect all of us. We need to maintain a sense of urgency in order to preserve an attitude that preventative measures and education are the only real tools for reducing the number of cases.

The stereotype that this only happens to gay men, especially men who use intravenous drugs is not only misleading, it is deadly. HIV-AIDS is present in all walks of life. Hanging on to stereotypical judgment is the root of the closeting and the “ghetto effect” it is having on those living with HIV-AIDS in Maine.

The Maine Legislature is currently wrestling with the difficult task of prioritizing the many legislative documents, and dealing with our budget crisis. They are the ones who are forced to bring the human faces of the affected, the afflicted, and the needy to the most impersonal and yet hopefully objective place of saying “yes” to some and “no” to others. They are the ones who will listen to the hours of testimony by the many families and clients who receive some form of state or federal assistance, and then decide where to spend our limited resources.

There are some other current day realities that are important to remember as we evaluate our priorities. The new wave of drug use in Maine includes heroin and methamphetamines. Heroin is primarily taken by injection, and according to the Centers for Disease Control, individuals using crystal meth are four times more likely to participate in unprotected sex than others. A common means for AIDS-HIV transmission is now coupled with another epidemic wave of drug use that involves needles and-or unprotected sex. This is a recipe for disaster if we don’t allocate reasonable means and funding for prevention and education.

The Maine AIDS Alliance has been the coordinator of many regional agencies specifically for this purpose. Maine has had a history of providing education and prevention throughout the past 10 years, primarily supporting ASO’s and working closely with communities, health care providers and schools. This year the appropriations committee is reviewing carried-over legislation, LD 588.

This bill would provide a modest $350,000 a year for two years to support the Maine AIDS Alliance. It would replace recent funding cuts and provide area groups with testing and increased case-management services of HIV-AIDS in Maine: a small price of prevention for pounds of potential cure for a disease that we cannot afford to forget about. This relatively small allocation to augment an already scant state commitment to a serious health issue is critical.

LD 588 would allow the Maine AIDS Alliance to continue as the only collective voice in our state for education and advocacy, and more importantly restore funding assistance to the AIDS Service Organizations who are providing the front line services to clients and at-risk populations.

Think about it and then contact your legislator.

Jeffrey Brawn is a graduate student in the University of Maine’s School of Social Work. He lives in Lincolnville.