Red Ribbon Day

"Es Mejor Saber. It's better to know."

In terms of illness, ignorance is not bliss. The slogan is the face of Southwest CARE Center's campaign to promote HIV/AIDS awareness among New Mexican and Santa Fe youth. But there is one group in particular the campaign hopes to influence.

"The fastest growing demographic of HIV infection is among young, gay Hispanic men," says Jeff Thomas, CEO of the CARE Center, during an interview on Dec. 1, also known as World AIDS Day. "Es Mejor Saber is targeted at the Hispanic community to raise awareness about the disease and what people can to do prevent it. We offer free, rapid HIV testing, anonymous as well."

Just down the road, Planned Parenthood of Santa Fe is also acknowledging the global event by providing free and anonymous HIV testing. The sparse office is quiet as one by one, slouched individuals are beckoned into the backrooms for testing. World AIDS Day began in 1988 in a global show of support for those living with and fighting the disease, as well as the search for a cure.

Thomas, his red ribbon pen catching the light, says he supports the idea of an awareness day and  its role in calling attention to the global fight, but notes that one day a year isn't enough.

"Every day is about maintaining awareness, reminding people that parts of our country and parts of the world still haven't benefited from the successes made against AIDS," he says.

Thomas, who first began his AIDS-related work during the 1980s as a social work intern for the homeless and about-to-be-homeless people directly affected by the AIDS outbreak, acknowledges that one of the particular challenges facing the AIDS medical community now is not just the fight for a cure, but the fight to keep AIDS in the public eye.

"The battle hasn't been won yet," he says. "In this country, at least, there is a bit of complacency that it's no longer the immediate public emergency it was. We need to continue keeping people recognizing successes, but also recognizing that it's not over."

Thanks to medical advances, many people with access to proper medication and healthcare can expect to live long, fulfilling lives following diagnosis. But that luxury is not afforded to all. Places such as sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV infection is highly prolific, lack the medical infrastructure to both prevent the spread of the virus and provide the infected with the proper drugs to turn HIV/AIDS from a death sentence to a manageable, chronic disease.

At present, it is estimated that between 3,500 to 4,000 New Mexicans are living with HIV. Thomas states that a major issue in bringing that number down lies in eliminating the social stigma that has attached itself to AIDS and its victims since the disease first emerged 30 years ago.

"Anyone who is still afraid just doesn't have enough information. The social stigma still exists, unfortunately," he says, "and I regrettably think that's mostly due to ignorance."

Southwest CARE serves as the primary source for HIV/AIDS related care in Santa Fe, treating and supporting 700+ individuals with medical issues ranging from Hepatitis C to prenatal care. The Center is also well-known for its annual "AID and Comfort" galas to raise money towards research and treatment. This year's gala will mark 26 years of hard work.

In a broader sense, the world has seen many ups and downs in the fight with AIDS during the past year.  In the field of research, scientists at the AIDS Institute at the University of Miami have been attempting to replicate the success of a treatment in Berlin, Germany, that cured a patient of HIV due to analysis of a mutated gene. On a more melancholy note, over 100 top AIDS scientists, such as former International AIDS Society president Joep Lange, died when Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was allegedly shot down over the Ukraine in July 2014.  

But Thomas remains optimistic that the fight will continue strong.

"We had one patient walk 700 miles from our front door, where she's currently being treated for her HIV, to the clinic in Austin, Texas, where she was first diagnosed, to raise awareness," he says. "There's been such great progress made against AIDS, yes, and we need to remember the strengths, but we also need to remember to keep putting the message out there."

GET TESTED FREE

Planned Parenthood
703 St. Micheal's Drive, 982-3684
Walk-in anytime 9 am-5 pm, Monday through Friday and until 7 pm Wednesdays

Southwest CARE Center Family Medicine Clinc
901 West Alameda, 988-8869
Monday, Tuesday and Fridays from 8 am to 5 pm and on Wednesday from 3 am to 3 pm; plus Thursday 8 am to 6 pm. 

Santa Fe Reporter