On the Front Lines, Maricopa Integrated Health System Fights to Educate Public About HIV / AIDS

January 27, 2006 - Statistics provided by the State of Arizona indicate that for every 100,000 Arizonans, 182 of them are living with HIV/AIDS. For the more the more than 10,000 men, women and children fighting the disease and the health care professionals who treat them, even one case is too many.

What these numbers tell us is startling, said Helen Lansche, McDowell Healthcare Center HIV program manager. The numbers don't lie. This disease isn't going away. The name of the game is education, she continued. We must remain vigilant in the fight against HIV. In that fight, knowledge is power.

From 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2006 at the McDowell Healthcare Center (1144 E. McDowell Rd.) MIHS will its 3rd annual HIV awareness fair.

Attendees will be given the opportunity to learn how the disease spreads and ways to greatly reduce the chances of acquiring it. Free testing and counseling will also be available. Additionally, several community organizations will be on hand to lend support to individuals living with HIV/AIDS.

A myriad of other health services will also be available, including: blood pressure checks, body fat analysis, dental exams, vision exams, diabetes screenings and much more.

About the McDowell Healthcare Center

Established in 1989, as an HIV specialty clinic within the Maricopa Integrated Health System, it is the largest provider of comprehensive and coordinated HIV related medical care for adults in Maricopa County. More than 1,300 individuals utilize its services each month.

Last updated on October 7, 2008