Home Industries Health Services AIDS Project R.I. seeks funds to continue tackling AIDS-related issues

AIDS Project R.I. seeks funds to continue tackling AIDS-related issues

By

Cassius Shuman

-

02/21/2020

ACTION PLAN: Mikel Wadewitz, center, director of AIDS Project Rhode Island, speaks with Will Tregaskis, left, and Minerva W. Quiroz during a staff meeting. Wadewitz says APRI is partnering with other agencies to develop a more concrete action plan to support older individuals with HIV. / PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

AIDS Project Rhode Island is addressing AIDS-related issues on a variety of fronts, despite new medication that is making the impact of HIV and fears associated with it a thing of the past. “HIV is a chronic condition. It’s not a death sentence,” said APRI Director Mikel Wadewitz. “There’s very good access to medication and

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AIDS Project Rhode Island is addressing AIDS-related issues on a variety of fronts, despite new medication that is making the impact of HIV and fears associated with it a thing of the past. “HIV is a chronic condition. It’s not a death sentence,” said APRI Director Mikel Wadewitz. “There’s very good access to medication and care for people living with HIV. So, people are living, and they are living pretty well and can achieve [through medication] what’s known as an undetectable viral load [in a blood test], meaning they can’t pass the virus on to others. That’s huge.” Wadewitz also said pills by the name of Truvada and Descovy can be taken once a day by HIV-negative people to prevent the infection. “They are up to 99% effective if taken the way they are supposed to be,” he said. Unfortunately, he said, there is still a stigma associated with the virus. “A study that came out recently noted that about 30% of young adults wouldn’t want to hug somebody with HIV. That’s kind of mindboggling. That’s why we need to educate people,” he said. Wadewitz said his Providence-based nonprofit organization is currently involved with education, testing and prevention. He said APRI was founded at the height of the AIDS crisis in 1985 as a grass roots organization. “There is not an infrastructure in place to deal with the first generation of people that are moving into old age with HIV,” Wadewitz said. “There are a lot of really complex issues associated with it. So, we’re partnering with other agencies in the state to come up with a more concrete action plan on how to support older individuals with HIV.” Wadewitz said although APRI received a $10,000 grant from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation Momentum Fund to conduct art workshops designed “to combat isolation,” the organization is in dire need of funding. Cassius Shuman is the PBN researcher. Email him at Shuman@PBN.com.