AIDS (for the acquired immune deficiency syndrome), first noticed in 1981, is a condition which results in high mortality and morbidity from a variety of opportunistic infections and tumors, resulting from a patient's loss of cellular immunity. By 1985 research showed that AIDS resulted from an often long-standing infection with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) which is spread sexually (most cases) and by percutaneous (through the skin) exposures (most commonly shared injection equipment). From a new disease in 1981, HIV has grown to infect over 40 million persons globally, and with continued rapid growth AIDS will easily kill more people than the Black Plague of the Middle Ages.
Highly effective treatment for HIV has been available locally to persons with or without resources since 1995; however, careful adherence is difficult, resistance can develop, and treatment can be toxic. Treatment keeps HIV at bay, at least delaying the progression to AIDS and death, but drug costs are too high for most underdeveloped countries. Thus, locally and globally, because of many problems with treatment, deaths from HIV & AIDS are continuing to occur and will likely increase. In addition, new infections locally may be increasing, as reflected by increasing rates of sexually transmitted diseases in groups at high risk for HIV. It appears that highly effective treatments can reduce incentives for the at-risk to avoid HIV and related infections.
To provide and coordinate public health and community partner efforts to prevent new HIV infections, to promote awareness of infection among those at risk, to encourage and support on-going medical care and effective treatment for those infected and ill, and to respond to community concerns and needs.
The program draws $7 of state and federal resources for every $1 supplied by Seattle & King County. Public Health provides disease surveillance, prevention and care studies, HIV counseling, testing and case-finding, technical & resource assistance to community partners, an extensive needle exchange, syringe and drug treatment access program, planning, administration, and collaboration with other state and federal efforts. Over half (57%) of resources are provided to a broad array of community partner agencies for care activities for 8,400 infected persons and prevention targeting especially gay men and injection drug users.
The HIV/AIDS program provides the following services:
- Telephone Hotline for HIV and STD information and referral to services.
- HIV Counseling & Testing . with hepatitis and STD services, integrated with the STD Control Program.
- Campaign and media development, and technical assistance to community partners.
- Community care and prevention planning support.
- Contracting for care and prevention services to community partner agencies.
- Materials development and review for schools and community partner agencies.
- Speakers' Bureau
- Special studies for persons with HIV, AIDS, and at-risk
- 7 Needle exchange and treatment referral sites, one with clinical services.
