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.
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.