Halton has few resources for AIDS victims: co By Howard Mozel Pet ha1s nothîng underscored the timportance of the otie-das The New Faces of AIDS' cont'crence lasi week more than the tact that three guesi speakers i-roin outside Ilialton wsere invitcd b to od ans' potetital tor reprisals agatnst indîvidual, who lis c in the region. Marcus Logan, chair toi AIDS Action lialton, didn't inake a major issue tofit1, but did sas îlots was donc to protct the speaketrs jusi i case, since ail three either have, or are dcalîtog directly with, the dîsease. \Vîth ibis in mni, ifs flot surprising that invited guests and participants alike said again and again that whats needed most in even a well-educated community like Halton is awareness and compassion in order to mitigate the widespread stigma and discrimination found in the community. A cure and/or vaccine would be fan- tastie too, of course, but attendees made it clear tbat in tbe meailtime tbe kînd of climate tbat breeds everytbtng from paranota to vtolence must be cbanged. In fart, wben asked flat-out wbat Halton's priorities sbould be, Torontos J ennifer Newman - tbe onis- member of a family of byve flot infected - said public education, especially for youth, sbould top tbe lîst. If more people sim- ply knew bow HIV is and îsn't spread, mucb discrimination and fear would subside. Sbe's flot exactly sure bow to change people's attitudes, bowever, but Newman said everyone bas to just "keep pounding away" The New Faces of AIDS was attend- ed by youtb, community groups and representatives from probation and cor- rectional facilities. In addition to the panel discussion on wbicb Newman spoke, the aftemoon saw attendees par- ticipate in interactive worksbnps abtout HIV/AIDS in prisons and about barm reduction. In Halton, there are 94 reported cases of AIDS and 164 individuals dîag- nosed witb HIV Yet, despite the rate at wbicb HIV is spread and the social implications of the virus, says The AIOS Network, Halton bas littie resources for address- ing the issues associated witb HIV/AIDS and none wbtcb deal solely witb the issue. (One issue raised is that the region bas no AIDS-specific clinie.) Community consultation efforts also found that Halton bas a number of spe- cific barriers to resources and support for tbose affected by HIV/AIDS. In addition to low general aware- ness, theres also a lack of community agency awareness of the role of public bealh's ability to provtde HIV/AIDS education. Theres also a lack of HIV- specific training relating to sexual ori- entation, partîcularly to enhance men- tal bealtb services, and flot enougb doc- tors to manage the care of those witb HIV/AIDS. "I bave beard people in Halton say that HIV/AIDS is flot an issue bere and that it's a big cîty issue, but Halton is ranked i 5tb out of 37 public health unaits in Ontario for the prevalence of HIV/AIDS infections," saîd Logan. "That says to me that HIV/AIDS is an issue in Halton and we need to deal witb it rigbt now. We also need to rec- î tiic t Ilfliion rots iicoiîc It! dlit -, lisving ssihll\Ai L)' jean Rcound, executive dîret uic tf the Miriai Groutp - the only agency i the regîtîn wiih the sîiecific moandate to set-se fIll"-nectcdVlted cbîldren 1 I- 0 1) 11 !( iii i laitton.- I b'e Miriain (roup Jusi biad issu ni-w families reierred to us lasi week and ifs horrendtîus that people living in i laîttîn have to gîo to Tortotnto tir ente dicl a ri ptctuiic of thi tîstîcs and ne ices and con -see Exle nde r % OU- The Canadiàn Chamnpioit ,Fihdy, April' 14, 2006 - A fl ~ re l ianadian Re Cross chîtdren under 19 cioîarkahi e tob toi painting a combined, e dieas beynd ere ta- Take à Red Cross c disase byîndmere ta- i 1Wd cosUeS. 'inforced the need for serv- spassion îhrîougb iirst-hand HIIV/AIDS on page A14 i . 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