Spring Break
AIDS week kicks off at UA today
By: Carly Kennedy
Issue date: 11/17/08 Section: News
There are 2,198 people known to be living with HIV in Pima County, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is estimated that 25 percent of Americans with HIV go undiagnosed, indicating that over 2,700 people have HIV in Pima County.
With numbers like these, the spread of HIV and AIDS has rightfully been called an "epidemic" said University of Arizona College of Pharmacy officials.
"It's estimated that 25 to 50 percent of people don't know that they are infected, and that's really the epidemic part of it," said Jenna Carmichael, a pharmacy graduate student. "If you don't know you're infected, how are you supposed to take precautions?"
Knowledge about HIV and AIDS, or lack thereof within student populations, has prompted the College of Pharmacy to sponsor a week-long event, Nov. 17 to Nov. 20, focusing on awareness and prevention of the viruses. Ginny Geib, of the UA College of Pharmacy, said the purpose of the week-long awareness event is to increase the knowledge of HIV and AIDS, but still focus on what is relevant to students.
"Pharmacy students are trying to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS," Geib said, "But they are particularly focused on how it affects student populations in Arizona."
Participating organizations include Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation and El Rio Health Center, which will be heading specific lectures throughout the week.
The lecture series kicks off today with a presentation by SAAF titled "The
HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Arizona." The lecture will focus on the growing population of HIV and AIDS patients within Arizona. Campus Health officials said that there are 6,000 cases that have been reported since the epidemic began in the 1980s. Currently, there are about 4,000 people living with AIDS in Arizona.
On Tuesday night, on behalf of Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network, a speaker named Georgeannie will share her ongoing battle with HIV. The "Patient's Perspective" lecture is part of the College of Pharmacy's attempt to push away from the medical terms, and put a human face on HIV and AIDS.
With numbers like these, the spread of HIV and AIDS has rightfully been called an "epidemic" said University of Arizona College of Pharmacy officials.
"It's estimated that 25 to 50 percent of people don't know that they are infected, and that's really the epidemic part of it," said Jenna Carmichael, a pharmacy graduate student. "If you don't know you're infected, how are you supposed to take precautions?"
Knowledge about HIV and AIDS, or lack thereof within student populations, has prompted the College of Pharmacy to sponsor a week-long event, Nov. 17 to Nov. 20, focusing on awareness and prevention of the viruses. Ginny Geib, of the UA College of Pharmacy, said the purpose of the week-long awareness event is to increase the knowledge of HIV and AIDS, but still focus on what is relevant to students.
"Pharmacy students are trying to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS," Geib said, "But they are particularly focused on how it affects student populations in Arizona."
Participating organizations include Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation and El Rio Health Center, which will be heading specific lectures throughout the week.
The lecture series kicks off today with a presentation by SAAF titled "The
HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Arizona." The lecture will focus on the growing population of HIV and AIDS patients within Arizona. Campus Health officials said that there are 6,000 cases that have been reported since the epidemic began in the 1980s. Currently, there are about 4,000 people living with AIDS in Arizona.
On Tuesday night, on behalf of Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network, a speaker named Georgeannie will share her ongoing battle with HIV. The "Patient's Perspective" lecture is part of the College of Pharmacy's attempt to push away from the medical terms, and put a human face on HIV and AIDS.
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