Panelists raise AIDS awareness

by Brandale Mills

Daily Lobo

Paulette Lane has been living with HIV for 19 years.

When she was diagnosed, she didn't know who to tell or how to tell them.

"After a while, I was just glad to be alive," she said.

Lane was part of a four-person panel of speakers at a conference held for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on Tuesday.

Two-Seven, a coalition of organizations, organized the third annual event held at the UNM Science and Technology Research Park.

The organization comes together every Feb. 7 to raise HIV/AIDS awareness among African-Americans in New Mexico.

Juanita Thorne, a Two-Seven committee member, said the event was designed to encourage African-Americans to get educated, get tested, get involved and get results in the fight for HIV awareness in the community.

"We want to take awareness beyond one day a year," she said. "It should become everyday conversation between family members."

In New Mexico, African-Americans represent two percent of the population, and African-Americans make up five percent of all HIV cases in the state, according to the Two-Seven Web site.

Doris Fieles, health chairwoman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said local involvement is important to promote AIDS awareness.

"It's already being addressed on a national level," she said. "We want to get state representatives involved in the community."

The conference also provided educational materials to about 45 attendees.

Student Rhyannon Spangler said she was disappointed because she did not see many students in the audience.

She wants to be aware of the information available to her, she said.

Lane joined panelists Juanita Thorne, whose brother and sister died from AIDS; Thom Patterson and Aysha Turtle, who are all living with AIDS or HIV.

Thorne said the death of her siblings impacted her and her family in many ways.

"I didn't realize how much it affected me and how angry I was until I openly talked about it," she said.

Thorne said she uses all of her volunteer hours spreading information about AIDS/HIV and encouraging people to get tested.

Patterson said living with HIV will affect every thought he has for the rest of his life.

"All I can do is hold on to my strength and keep going," he said.

Lane said she received a lot of comfort from women's support groups she meets with once a week.

"I just want to let people know that even if you are living with HIV, there is still hope," she said.

Turtle said she was diagnosed with HIV when she was 18.

"I never thought I was a person at risk," she said. "AIDS has consumed my life."

Turtle said prevention messages have decreased over the past 10 years.

"There is still a lot of ignorance out there," she said. "People will continue to be infected without these messages."

Cameron Schmitt, an AIDS prevention generalist, said the conference should help get the community involved in realizing the importance of the spreading epidemic.

"It's a good way to get educated about HIV and the African-American culture," he said.

There were tables at the event with information on the prevention of HIV/AIDS and how to get tested. Technicians at the event also gave free HIV testing.

Student Marlo Griego said she attended the conference because AIDS affects everybody.

"It's really great that someone is talking about it," she said. "It was informative and motivating."