Denver recognizes National HIV Awareness Month with vigil at State Capitol

In recognition of National HIV Awareness Month in July, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains is partnering with Rocky Mountain Cares, One Colorado, and the GLBT Community Center of Colorado (The Center) to remember, celebrate and honor those who have been impacted by HIV/AIDS by holding a vigil on the west steps of the Colorado State Capitol on July 12 at 5:30 p.m.

The vigil will feature State Sen. Pat Steadman, Dr. David Cohn, former associate director of Denver Public Health and founder of the Denver Health Infectious Diseases/AIDS Clinic, in addition to Dr. Benjamin Young, medical director for Rocky Mountain Cares and vice president and chief medical officer of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care. Rocky Mountain CARES provides high quality centralized medical care and supportive services to a diverse and inclusive Colorado HIV/AIDS community.

July is National HIV Awareness Month, which aims to to re-ignite a national discussion about HIV/AIDS in order to increase public awareness, end HIV stigma and discrimination, and engage new stakeholders in the fight against the disease, with the ultimate goal of ending the epidemic.

Since the first HIV/AIDS diagnosis in the United States 31 years ago, with the first case reported in Colorado less than a year later, HIV/AIDS has taken many loved ones. Today, one new person becomes infected with HIV every 9.5 minutes in the United States, and 1 in 5 individuals don’t know that they are HIV positive. It is estimated that there are about 11,000 people in Colorado who are known to be living with HIV, and 2,000-3,000 are living with HIV, but are not yet diagnosed. Approximately 430 people are diagnosed with HIV in Colorado each year.

Yet there are glimmers of hope as significant advances in care, treatment and prevention have occurred over the last two decades. Recent and ongoing progress in care and new findings in research are making long and healthy lives possible for HIV/AIDS patients, and the rates of infection and death have markedly declined. There is also a growing number of advocates, activists, and concerned citizens who have joined the fight to end HIV/AIDS.