AIDS Archives - Tulalip News

Inslee Wants To Cut New HIV Infections By Half In 2020

The red ribbon is the global symbol for solidarity with HIV-positive people and those living with AIDS.Wikimedia — The red ribbon is the global symbol for solidarity with HIV-positive people and those living with AIDS.
Wikimedia

Washington Governor Jay Inslee says by the year 2020, he wants to cut the number of new HIV infections in half.

Heather Hill, a manager with the Benton-Franklin Health District in Kennewick, has seen a shift since AIDS emerged.

In my 30-year public health career I’ve seen a real change in attitude in a lot of people that, ‘so what if I get an STD, it’s treatable,’ You know, chlamydia has become pretty normal and accepted,” she said. “ And that worries me.”

Hill said her office has seen a 64 percent increase in gonorrhea cases just in the last six months — that means there’s an HIV-risk too.

To reach the governor’s goal, Hill wants more money for education, treatment and outreach.

Monday is World AIDS Day.

National Native American AIDS Awareness Day

March 20th is National Native American AIDS Awareness Day. AIDS and HIV, though declining nationally, are on the rise in many Native American communities, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. For Tulalip, HIV and AIDS have been steadily climbing, following that trend.

National Native American AIDS Awareness Day is intended to raise awareness about the unique challenges native American communities face that lead to increased risk. While race and ethnicity neither play no part in susceptibility nor create a predisposition to risk of infection, the demographic challenges many Native Americans face to lead to increased risk factors. These include cultural diversity, socioeconomic challenges, substance abuse, societal stigmas, mistrust of government health care, and lack of awareness because of cultural barriers.

National Native American AIDS Awareness day was first observed in 2007, and has been observed on the first day of spring each subsequent annum. To learn more visit http://aids.gov/news-and-events/awareness-days/native/

Awareness resources:

CDC HIV/AIDS info
Government awareness campaign.
Snohomish County Health District

Testing and Community Health Centers:

Sno Co Health District, contact for locations and more information.
Evergreen Aids Foundation, Contact
CHC of Snohomisch Count, Contact to schedule an appointment
Planned Parenthood, contact

Isadore Boni: AIDS Stigma Holding Back Progress in Indian Country

Courtesy Wellbound StorytellersIsadore Boni, San Carlos Apache, was diagnosed with HIV and hepatitis C in May 2002. After his disease escalated to AIDS in November 2004, he was cured of hepatitis C in 2013. Now he is an advocate for HIV prevention and HIV/AIDS treatment and care. — Courtesy Wellbound Storytellers
Isadore Boni, San Carlos Apache, was diagnosed with HIV and hepatitis C in May 2002. After his disease escalated to AIDS in November 2004, he was cured of hepatitis C in 2013. Now he is an advocate for HIV prevention and HIV/AIDS treatment and care.

Isadore Boni, Indian Country Today Media Network

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), of persons diagnosed with HIV, more than 38 percent of American Indians and Alaskan Natives progressed to an AIDS diagnosis in less than 12 months, which is the highest percentage among all racial/ethnic groups.

Many question why American Indians and Alaskan Natives progress so fast to an AIDS diagnosis, which also contributes to Natives having the shortest survival time among all racial/ethnic groups. AIDS/HIV awareness activist Isadore Boni blames the stigma attached to the disease.

“Stigma in Indian country in general is still very very strong,” Boni said. “Stigma prevents people from getting tested, prevents people from accessing the care they need and it stops people who are positive from going through the process of acceptance. That is more important than anything. Stigma to me in my opinion, is the reason, that Native people, have the highest death rates, among all other people according to the CDC.”

Boni, a San Carlos Apache tribal member, spoke to college students at Haskell Indian Nations University for their AIDS Awareness event.

Native AIDS Survivor Finds Empowerment Through Honesty, Fights for HIV Confidentiality Law

Apache AIDS Survivor Runs Fifth Half-Marathon

Regardless of the statistics, Boni has gone on to lead a healthy and productive life. Since being diagnosed with HIV, he recently finished his fifth P.F. Chang’s half marathon this past January in Phoenix, Arizona, where he resides.

“I want the students to know, even the most educated and most successful people have HIV and it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a death sentence,” he said. “The sooner you get tested, the longer you can live.”
According the CDC, Native Hawaiians/Other Pacific Islanders and American Indians/Alaska Natives had the 3rd and 5th highest rate of new HIV infections, respectively.

One concern of Boni is making sure when someone does find out they are positive for HIV that they have support.

“Sharing with people makes me stronger,” Boni said. “It is also medicine, whether it’s words or a hug, that to me is medicine. That support, is more stronger than any medication that I have been taking.”

The National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is March 20. Organizers are looking for tribal communities to host events to help increase awareness. Anything from hosting talks, walks, runs or by going with someone to take a test as a form of support, National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day has materials ready for anyone at their website at www.nnhaad.org.

This article was originally published by Wellbound Storytellers. Read more blogs about healthy living written by Natives throughout Indian country at WellboundStorytellers.com.