Barrington Resident Featured at World AIDS Day Event

Dr. Amy Nunn, of Barrington and Brown University’s School of Public Health, was a featured speaker in the State Room at the Rhode Island State House, on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2014.

Other speakers included Governor Lincoln Chafee, State Representative Christopher Blazejewski, and Josh Kilby, a health care worker and activist who recently went on PrEP (more about this medication can be found on the Rhode Island Department of Health HIV/AIDS page. Please click here.

Dr. Nunn said she wanted to “sound the alarm bells ” about the increase in new diagnoses of HIV infection in Rhode Island. Read more in a Providence Journal story by clicking here.

According to Kristen Pfeiffer, MSW, project director at The Miriam Hospital, “In RI, rates of STDs like gonorrhea and syphilis are on the rise in huge way, which can increase the likelihood of HIV infection. There needs to be more awareness and more dollars invested in primary prevention, education and testing. Prevention is a multi-layered approach, where each layer is as valuable as the next.”

“Comprehensive sexuality education is the key to preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, said Pierrette Silverman, Vice President, Education & Training, Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. “Health care providers and educators must continue to provide medically accurate and age-appropriate sexual health education; we also need to provide skill building on the proper use of condoms and other safer sex methods so that those who chose to engage in sexual activity are knowledgeable and protected.”

Helen MacDonald, youth advocate from Sojourner House, said, “HIV/AIDS is more than an individual’s illness; it’s a community concern, and it often impacts the communities that are already disproportionately marginalized and disenfranchised. When we stop talking about HIV/AIDS as a personal responsibility, but rather as an issue that demands community level engagement, we will be able to reduce transmission, increase access to healthcare for those living with the disease, and improve the well-being of our neighborhoods, our cities, and our state.”

Dr. Philip A. Chan, an HIV doctor at the Miriam Hospital shared with us, “HIV affects people of all ages and backgrounds. Everyone should be tested at least once and annually if sexually active. Together, we can help prevent HIV and get to zero new cases in the states!”

The following World AIDS Day-related events are free and open to the public:

RISD Recognizes World AIDS Day 2014
November 17, 2014 through December 5, 2014
Fleet Library, Mandle Building, 15 Westminster St., Providence
4 panels from the National AIDS Quilts
For more information: Visit: events.risd.edu or contact: Intercultural Student Engagement (ise@risd.edu or 401.277.4957)

Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS-free Generation
Wednesday, December 3, 2014, 7-8:30pm
URI Alumni Center
73 Upper College Road, Kingston, RI
Parking off Fortin Road at rear of center
Sponsored by: AIDS Quilt RI, Anna’s Workshop, URI Public Relations Strategies Class