HIV/AIDS Deaths on the Rise in Louisiana

April 14th, 2008

Louisiana Community AIDS Partnership Awards Close to $100,000 to Organizations to Improve Health of Those Living With or Affected By HIV/AIDS in Louisiana

14-Apr-08, New Orleans, LA The Louisiana Community AIDS Partnership (LCAP), a newly founded collaboration convened by the Louisiana Public Health Institute and in alliance with the National AIDS Fund (NAF), has awarded grants totaling $95,500 to four organizations across the state to promote and improve the health and quality of life for those infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS in Louisiana.

Three organizations in the New Orleans area will receive grant funding totaling $65,500:

Childrens Hospitals Family Advocacy, Care & Education Services (FACES) $19,000
FACES is a Mind-Body Medicine approach program for HIV positive women, children, youth and their affected family members with HIV/AIDS case management services in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Monroe and Shreveport.
The NO/AIDS Task Force, on behalf of the Louisiana Latino Health Coalition for HIV/AIDS Awareness (LLHC)$9,500
LLHC is an advocacy body that serves the HIV/AIDS needs of the Latino population.
Project Lazarus$37,000
Project Lazarus is the oldest and largest agency providing housing and assisted living to people living with HIV/AIDS in Louisiana.

The one year grants aim to support existing HIV/AIDS services and infrastructure. Over the course of the next year, LCAP and NAF will partner with national, state and city organizations to raise local funds that will be matched by NAF up to $100,000. These matched funds, representing national and state resources, in turn, will inform and fund a new round of grants for the following year.

The Louisiana Public Health Institute is proud to be the convener of the Louisiana Community AIDS Partnership and looks forward to partnering with diverse sectors to tap into local philanthropic funding to improve the health and lives of citizens who are at risk of HIV infection and those living with HIV/AIDS, says Joe Kimbrell, CEO of the Louisiana Public Health Institute.

According to statewide HIV/AIDS surveillance data for Louisiana, there were 27,492 cumulative HIV/AIDS cases reported (including 301 pediatric cases) and 11,402 deaths (including 98 deaths among pediatric cases) as of December 31, 2007. These numbers align with national trends in which HIV/AIDS cases and deaths are generally declining in every region but the South. In fact, Southern states fair very poorly when it comes to indicators and prevalence of overall health and HIV/AIDS. While AIDS deaths decreased in all regions by at least 5% from 2001-2005, deaths increased by 10.3% in the South.

In 2006, Louisiana ranked 5th highest in AIDS case rates and 12th in the number of AIDS cases diagnosed. More specifically, Baton Rouge and Greater New Orleans continue to lead the rest of the state in all HIV/AIDS-related rates. The Baton Rouge metro area ranked 4th in AIDS case rates, and the New Orleans metro area ranked 8th.

Unfortunately, nearly 60% of persons living with HIV/AIDS in Louisiana are struggling with unmet needs, including primary health care services, and while new HIV and AIDS diagnoses have been declining slightly, HIV/AIDS deaths are on the rise due to lack of support and services, says Susan Bergson, Program Manager for the Louisiana Community AIDS Partnership. The Louisiana Community AIDS Partnership is committed to tackling this states unmet needs and disproportionate impacts of HIV/AIDS on the population.

In addition to grant provisions, the funding provided by NAF and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, LCAP is establishing an advisory council to include individuals from diverse sectors, including political ,corporate, medical, pharmaceutical, media, arts, foundations, faith-based and more to address the needs of the HIV/AIDS population. Additionally, LCAP is currently involved in strategic planning to identify gaps in HIV/AIDS programming in the state, which will serve to formulate objectives and further fundraising goals for the partnership.

For more information on the Louisiana Community AIDS Partnership, National AIDS Fund or the Elton John AIDS Foundation, contact Susan Bergson at 504.301.9836 or sbergson@lphi.org.

About the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI):

Founded in 1997, The Louisiana Public Health Institutes mission is to promote and improve the health and quality of life in Louisiana through public-private partnering at the community, parish and state levels. By fostering collaborative endeavors in the areas of health information, public policy, applied research, and community capacity enhancement, LPHI works to develop community-oriented solutions that improve the health of the Louisiana population.
About the National AIDS Fund:

The National AIDS Fund’s mission is to reduce the incidence and impact of HIV/AIDS by promoting leadership and generating resources for effective community responses to the epidemic. Through an expanding network of Community Partnerships, the National AIDS Fund promotes collaborative local planning and provides strategic grants and technical support to nearly 400 direct service organizations annually. Since 1988, together with its Community Partnerships, the National AIDS Fund has marshaled and invested over $150 million to combat the AIDS epidemic in the United States. The National AIDS Fund continues to develop innovative public-private partnerships as a means of leveraging national resources and directing them to communities and populations that need them most. About the Elton John AIDS Foundation:
Since its establishment in 1992 by Founder and Chairman Sir Elton John, the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) has raised over $125 million to support HIV/AIDS prevention and service programs in 55 countries around the globe. Today, EJAF is one of the world’s leading nonprofit HIV/AIDS organizations supporting community-based prevention education programs, harm reduction programs, and direct services to persons living with HIV/AIDS, especially populations with special needs. EJAF’s current grant-making priorities target HIV prevention programs in the Southern United States and the Caribbean; HIV prevention and care services for highly marginalized and vulnerable populations; and HIV/AIDS prevention education and the promotion of sexual health for adolescents

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