Discussion tackles issue of educating women about HIV

A panel of women with HIV discussed ways to prevent other women from contracting the virus through practicing safe sex in a discussion held in honor of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and AIDS Awareness Week 2006. Bloomington Hospital Positive Link sponsored the talk titled "The Secrets of Love" Wednesday night at the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center.\n"This program was important to have because outreach is needed," said Program Coordinator Brittany Veal. "Coordinating programs like this provide an opportunity to reach out to the community."\nTammy Dutkowski, care coordinator of Positive Link, said the goal of the program was "to give HIV a human face and to share real-life experiences of women living with HIV."\nThe women affected by HIV stressed that a person can't tell by looking at someone if they are infected with HIV. The panelists stressed the importance of women getting tested to know their HIV status.\n"Everyone is at risk and it is so important to get the word out for women to protect themselves and get tested," Dutkowski said.\n"HIV is a rising problem with women and young adults, and it should be addressed," Veal said.\nFor individuals living with HIV/AIDS, Bloomington Hospital Positive Link provides social services and health care for individuals living with HIV/AIDS. \nDutkowski explained that people infected with HIV/AIDS might find themselves in need of services they had never even considered. \n"They may need guidance on how to inform their family of their HIV status, how to find medical specialists or where to apply for help with medication," she said.\nThe goal of AIDS Awareness Week is to provide IU students with educational programs, and freshman Sarah Carver said she came to the presentation for a class and to learn more about HIV/AIDS.\n"I didn't realize how serious HIV was for women, and I think the most important thing they stated was to protect yourself, and it's better to know your HIV status than not to know," she said.\nDutkowski emphasized the importance of women knowing their HIV status because the earlier they know, the earlier they can begin their HIV treatment.\n"Once a person learns they are HIV positive, at Positive Link, our role is to provide comprehensive services such as substance abuse counseling, housing, medical and food assistance to individuals," Dutkowski said.\n"The most important thing I will take away from this presentation is to always protect myself because you can get HIV and AIDS at any age," said sophomore Courtney Rogers. "I didn't realize how big of a problem HIV/AIDS still is today, and I am glad I came to the program and got information."\nThe program concluded with a performance by Black Curtain, the student organization of the Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies. The performance was a short segment from a play highlighting the denial of HIV/AIDS in the black community.