Statewide initiative in Illinois to increase awareness about HIV, AIDS

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. In an effort to curb a still-serious HIV infection epidemic in Illinois, the Illinois Public Health Association has introduced a new outreach initiative – Illinois HIV Care Connect – to increase awareness about a statewide network of services for HIV-positive individuals.

James R. Nelson, executive director of the Illinois Public Health Association, said Illinois HIV Care Connect – www.hivcareconnect.com – extends the ability of health care providers and others to help people living with HIV.

“Illinois HIV Care Connect provides confidential medical case management services, as well as health care and support services to HIV-positive individuals who meet eligibility requirements,” Nelson said.

Funded by the Illinois Department of Public Health through federal Ryan White Part B grants, Illinois HIV Care Connect is comprised of a statewide network of eight regional offices.

“Increasing awareness of HIV-related services among health providers is a primary goal of the initiative, Nelson said. “Our new Web site has detailed information about the enormous resources provided by the statewide network,” he added.

In addition to reaching out to health care providers, Illinois HIV Care Connect also will encourage corrections officials to refer HIV-positive individuals because HIV infection within the prison population is five times higher than among the general public, Nelson said.

People living with HIV who enroll in Illinois HIV Care Connect may qualify for outpatient medical care, mental health care, oral health care, medical nutritional therapy, substance abuse prevention and counseling, and other support services.

“Illinois HIV Care Connect serves as a one-stop shop for all these services,” said Richard Sewell, IPHA president. “Getting HIV-positive individuals to take advantage of these services helps to curb the spread and progression of HIV, Sewell said. “It’s important that HIV-positive individuals receive the medical treatments they need to slow the progression of HIV. They also need to know the precautions they should take to prevent the spread of the infection to others.”

HIV infection can progress to AIDS and other diseases. Illinois has the nation’s seventh highest cumulative number of AIDS cases, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, with more than 36,000 reported cases and 18,500 deaths since 1981.