Event shines light on living with HIV/AIDS

Jackson County isn’t — and hasn’t been — immune from HIV/AIDS anymore than the H1N1 flu.

That’s one reason why some residents will gather Tuesday for a World AIDS Day program at Community Foundation of Jackson County’s offices in Seymour.

Since 1988, World AIDS Day has been recognized as a time to bring individuals and organizations together to remember those who have died from HIV/AIDS, increase awareness  that the pandemic continues and celebrate the progress being made in the fight against the disease.

The day’s theme is “Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise.”

Tuesday’s program in Seymour will be a panel discussion about what it is like to live with HIV/AIDS in Indiana and is being arranged and moderated by Positive Link.

According to AIDSaction.org, Jackson County had 57 AIDS cases and 6 HIV cases in 2004.

And according to AVERT.org, an estimated 3,939 Hoosiers were living with AIDS or HIV at the end of 2007.

Positive Link is one of 12 Indiana care coordination sites for people who are living with HIV/AIDS and  is part of Bloomington Hospital’s Community Health Services division.

The program will also include music and a remembrance of those who have died of AIDS.

Sponsors of the event include American Red Cross of Jackson County, Immanuel United Church of Christ, BioScrip Pharmacy, Indiana AIDS Fund, Planned Parenthood of Indiana, Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus, Positive Link, Step Up, Seymour Chapter of PFLAG, Carla’s Wellness and the Gay Straight Alliance.

The event will be held in the meeting room of The Community Foundation of Jackson County, 107 Community Drive in Seymour.

Refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m., followed by the program from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The public is invited.