The AIDS Fund has been leading the fight against HIV/AIDS in Hampton Roads for 28 years.

For several years, AIDS Service Organizations across the country have focused on medical issues for people living with HIV/AIDS. However, the cycle of HIV/AIDS is no longer a matter of health related care for the poor and disenfranchised. The issues of low self-esteem, substance abuse, adherence, unemployment, poverty, lack of formal education, and hunger need to be addressed. Addressing only health related issues without the contributing factors listed above will fail to break the cycle of HIV and poverty. The AIDS Fund has identified an increase in the need to provide these support services.

Cuts for a cause.

Today we provide support in various forms to individuals infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. Not only does The AIDS Fund provide Case Management services, which provides access to medical/dental care and medications, we also provide emergency financial assistance, housing, food pantry/meals, support groups/counseling and transportation assistance. Additionally, we provide prevention education and HIV testing to the entire Hampton Roads Community.

Too often these days we only hear about the bad and rarely the successes in our community so we wanted to share a few of our accomplishments over the past few years, as told through two individuals’ stories.

SPONSORED: With a masters in public administration, you can help people become more aware of HIV/AIDS as well as participate in campaigns which will help those who have HIV/AIDS.

Quite a ride

For me it all began in 1986 when I was diagnosed HIV positive. That was all I needed. After all I was a drug addict, practically homeless, friendless and little family to support me. I was in and out of jails and prison for most of my life. Now this. From what I had heard and seen with my own eyes in my hood, dealing with this was going to be the biggest fight of my life, what little was left of it.

How do I fight something that dwells in some of the behaviors that I practice and enjoy doing, like sex and drugs? Man there’s choices to be made and fast. After gathering my thoughts and much debate I decided to live. I contacted my mother in Norfolk and explained to her what I now faced. She listened and was a mother all the way. She stated that it was going to be all right and if I wanted, she would help me deal with it all. So I did take her up on her offer and left my comfort zone in New York to go how to Norfolk.

When I got to Norfolk I was very sick both from HIV and my heroin addiction, but there was a plan. My first fight was to get off heroin. I enrolled in treatment to deal with the addiction. I am happy to say that I have been clean for 11 years now.

My sister told me about TACT, (Tidewater AIDS Community Taskforce) and how they could help me deal with the issues associated with HIV/AIDS. I was not sure how to handle that but I did say I would try it. She set up an appointment for me. My mother, my sister and I went to TACT, where I was treated with respect and courtesy. I was helped with medical care and medications. These were things I was lacking and needed right away. I enrolled in one of their support groups that met each week to discuss everyday issues, whatever they might be. I was given much needed information about HIV/AIDS and other STD’s. After my intake I was referred to medical care and case management services.

It hasn’t been easy, let me tell you, but as a result of my mother and sister introducing me to TACT I can honestly say I am alive today. I am very healthy and because of the education, care and support I received, I now work for the very agency that helped me stay alive. I now educate people about HIV/AIDS and let them know about the risks involved with an unsafe lifestyle. I also run a support group that I started for people with specific issues and needs.

Thank you, to everyone who helped me through, and to TACT.

Sister to Sister: My road to change

How you can help.

For now I would like to be known simply as Kay. I am a 53 year old African American female. I have been living in the Huntersville area of Norfolk all of my life. I have had a fair life. I have three children; I have one boy and two girls. All of my children are adults and have their own children, so yes, this makes me a grandmother. I have been with the same man for over twenty years. It has been hard.

We both use heroin. It’s the only thing we share in common. He will work from time to time and this will at least keep a roof over our heads. I have to work the streets to support our habit. I have always had unprotected sex with him. I had never used condoms with any of my tricks either. I started talking to the Outreach workers from The AIDS Fund, (TACT) who would come out in the neighborhood and I would get condoms from them, but I would only use them if the trick wanted to. I would turn a trick without a condom if they said they would pay more money to go raw. After about a year of working with The AIDS Fund Outreach Workers they convinced me to be tested. I was tested for the HIV Virus and to my surprise I was negative and this made me so happy.

I committed to myself I would not have unprotected sex with anyone. At first it was not as easy as I thought. When I would need to get off empty I would have sex without a condom. I finally made up in my mind no matter what I was going to use condoms. I am proud to say ever since I used condoms with all of the tricks. To my surprise I only lost a few of my tricks because of my decision.

I am so proud of myself and I will continue to use condoms. The AIDS Fund Outreach workers committed to help me become a better wife, mother and grandmother. I was referred to people that are helping me deal with my addiction. It’s hard, but I know I can beat this demon. Now my next task is to get a job I can be proud to say I do. The AIDS Fund is involved in this process too. I know that without the dedication and support I received, I would still be turning tricks on the street and things would have been very different. It makes me excited to think that one day my grandchildren will grow up to be proud of their grandmother, not because of what I went through, but because of who I became.

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