HIV/AIDS

HIV: ALIVE AND WELL

By Chris Ernest Nelson 

April 7, 2023 (San Diego) -- It may not be your grandparent’s HIV. It may no longer be a death sentence, but it still poses a potent threat to public health.  The good news is, there has been significant progress in the past 40 years in the treatment and management of this one-time deadly virus. When HIV/AIDS first appeared in our communities, it was most often a death sentence to those infected. But today people with HIV have effective medications that offer them satisfying and productive lives.

The number of new cases of HIV infection have fallen to half in the past decade. Those who are infected have learned how not to spread the virus, and they have access to life-saving medications. When people know the dangers, preventative measures, and availability of treatment, they can be better prepared to avoid infection, or to deal with a HIV diagnosis, and how to guide themselves or loved ones toward getting the treatment they need.

Today, 90 percent of HIV infections are among young men. There are roughly 15,000 local residents living with HIV, and another estimated 1400 people living with an undiagnosed infection. That is why testing is so important in reducing the spread of the virus. HIV testing is easy, it is available without cost, and your identity will remain confidential.

With or without a diagnosis, prevention can be as simple as using a condom. In addition, the use of “PrEP” (pre-exposure prophylaxis), a daily pill, is even more effective at lowering the risk of getting and spreading HIV from sex, and also from intravenous drug use. PrEP is readily available from a professional healthcare provider.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

CALIFORNIANS MARK 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF AIDS EPIDEMIC

By Suzanne Potter, California News Service

Photo: Creative Commons by NC-ND via Bing

June 14, 2021 (San Diego) --  Forty years ago this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the first cases of what would become known as HIV/AIDS, and touch off an epidemic that took 32 million lives across the globe, and 700,000 in the United States.

Rick Chavez Zbur, outgoing executive director of Equality California and a candidate for Assembly District 50 in the Santa Monica area, said Americans mustn't forget the terrible toll of this disease.

"I lost literally scores of friends to the disease, and watched our government pretty much do nothing about it for over a decade," Zbur recounted. "And so, as I think about the 40th anniversary, I think we need to remember all the people that were lost."


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

SHOW YOUR LOVE FOR SAN DIEGANS AFFECTED BY HIV/AIDS IN FEBRUARY BY PARTICIPATING IN FOOD DRIVE

 

Host a Food Drive for Mama's Pantry

January 31, 2013 (San Diego) -- Mama’s Pantry, a service of Mama’s Kitchen, provides a nutritional shopping opportunity at no cost for men, women and children of San Diego County affected by HIV/AIDS. The public’s help is needed in February to host food drives throughout the county to ensure the shelves are full with nutritious non-perishable food items. Mama’s Kitchen aims to collect 100 barrels of food for Mama’s Pantry.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

EAST COUNTY ROUNDUP: TOP LOCAL AND STATE NEWS

January 16, 2013--(San Diego’s East County)--East County Roundup highlights top stories of interest to East County and San Diego’s inland regions, published in other media. This week’s top “Roundup” headlines include:

STATE 

LOCAL//REGIONAL

Read more for excerpts and links to full stories.


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

INTERNATIONAL LGBT AUTHOR, COLUMNIST TERRY ANGEL MASON TO SPEAK AT SAN DIEGO NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE

 
May 10, 2012 (San Diego) -- On May 18, 2012, legendary HIV/AIDS advocate, civil rights activist, author and columnist Terry Angel Mason will be a guest speaker at the San Diego Neighborhood House Association, located at 841 South, 41st Street, San Diego, CA 92114. The special event will take place at 1:30 pm, and will include a discussion about HIV/AIDS prevention and book signing by the famed author.

Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

NUTRITION IS VITAL TO THE SICK—AND MAMA’S KITCHEN DELIVERS TO THOSE IN NEED

 
By Alberto Cortés
Executive Director, Mama’s Kitchen
 
March 13, 2012 (San Diego) -- March is National Nutrition Month and while most of us are focusing on how we can develop sound eating and physical activity habits, there are many who are wondering how they will be able to shop or cook their meal tonight. Why? Because they are suffering from a debilitating illness such as HIV/AIDS or cancer that doesn’t enable them to live an everyday existence.

Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.

THANKSGIVING PIES FROM MAMA’S KITCHEN BENEFIT CRITICALLY ILL NEIGHBORS IN OUR REGION

 
October 5, 2011, (La Mesa) --Thanksgiving is coming and the people of the United Church of Christ of La Mesa (UCCLM) invite you to let Mama do the baking this year.  Church members are helping Mama’s Kitchen raise money to provide nutritious meals for San Diego men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS and cancer. 

Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.