North Carolina: How HIV and AIDS Adds Up

As the number of HIV cases in Cleveland County grows, so too does the challenge for low-income residents with the disease in finding care and treatment options. According to a state Department of Health and Human Services report, five people in Cleveland County tested HIV-positive in 2003, 12 did so in 2004, and 18 people have tested positive so far this year. Over the past 20 years, 154 of the 20,867 people who tested at the county health department have had positive results.

Zita Roberts, an HIV/AIDS case manager for the Cleveland County Health Department, said about 35 people newly diagnosed with HIV request her assistance each year. Currently, Roberts and another nurse aid 75 low-income clients in finding services and resources.

"Of the 75 clients we have, there are about 50 who are on the waiting list to be added to ADAP [AIDS Drug Assistance Program]," said Roberts. "I've been able to fill out forms with different pharmaceutical companies so that none of my clients have had to go without their medicines, but many of the companies' free drug programs only last about three months," she said, adding that several area churches have helped out with drug costs.

County Health Director Denese Stallings said her agency is doing "a good job" with HIV/AIDS case management, considering limited local, state and federal funding. Since HIV/AIDS cases have increased, her staff must do more to "evaluate the situation" and allocate funds appropriately, said Stallings. She noted that the state recommends that each case manager have no more than 40 clients.

Dr. Ian Stamp of Internal Medicine of Shelby currently treats about 30 HIV patients. There are not enough local doctors who handle HIV-positive cases, said Stamp, and "some doctors may have a biased feeling toward individuals because they are homosexuals." "I have homosexual patients ... I also have a lot of female patients, and nowadays, most cases I've seen here are heterosexually transmitted," Stamp said.

Back to other news for August 11, 2005