Nonprofit hosts event to bring awareness to AIDS | Business

On July 23, The Capital Area Phoenix Initiative, in conjunction with EMKAY Solutions and the Varsity Theatre, will offer the city of Baton Rouge its first HIV and AIDS awareness concert. The event, entitled Band AIDS, is an attempt to draw attention to the dire need to eradicate and ban AIDS and HIV in  Baton Rouge and its surrounding areas. The name serves as a pun on the name of the well known brand of adhesive bandage, while also referring to the local musicians and bands working together to provide aid and alluding to the fact that any help stemming from their efforts will be likened to a band-aid on a very serious problem in the community.

Line-up: Onion Loaf, Melomania, and Rockapotamus

When: Saturday, July 23, | Doors open at 8:00 pm | Event time 9:30pm-1pm

Where: Varsity Theatre, 3353 Highland Rd, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802

Admission: $8 in advance at The Chimes on Highlands Rd., by phone (800) 594-8499, or online at www.varsitytheatre.com

The Capital Area Phoenix Initiative is a non-profit, community based organization that is committed to providing HIV education, outreach, and testing; providing supportive services for those living with HIV and AIDS; and reducing the stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV and AIDS. All proceeds from the night will go towards increasing the testing and outreach activities offered by The Capital Area Phoenix Initiative.

- As of December 31, 2010, there were 17,900 people living with HIV infection in Louisiana.

-   39% were living in the New Orleans metro area, 26% were living in the Baton Rouge metro area

-   30% were female, 70% were male

-   67% were black, 28% were white, and 4% were Hispanic.

Why is it important to get tested?

The CDC estimates that 21% of people who are infected with HIV are unaware of their status. Using this estimate, there are over 4,500 people living in Louisiana with HIV who do not know that they are infected.

The sooner someone is diagnosed in his or her disease progression, the sooner they are able to begin treatment. A 2009 study (Losina, Schackman, et al.) found that persons with HIV who initiated treatment late in their disease progression had an additional 2.6 years of life lost.

There is solid evidence that people who learn of their HIV infection begin taking precautions to protect their partners, which can greatly reduce the further spread of HIV. People who learn they have HIV can then take the next steps to determine a proper course of treatment. Many new treatments considerably prolong life.

Those at advanced stages of infection are at risk of developing life-threatening conditions that do not infect people with healthy immune systems; but these very serious diseases are preventable by knowing your HIV status and following the appropriate treatment guidelines.