Vermont: AIDS in the Black Community Discussed

On Wednesday, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, the IMANI Health Institute in Burlington hosted an event to encourage people of color to learn about AIDS and get tested for HIV. IMANI serves some 44 minority clients living with HIV/AIDS, providing case management, counseling and support groups, and anonymous HIV testing.

Many of those attending the event were Somali Bantus. Also taking part were Sharon Moffat, acting commissioner of the Vermont Department of Health, and Lajiri Van Ness-Otunnu, an AmericCorps volunteer with the Community and Economic Development Office.

In Vermont, people of color make up less than three percent of the population, though they represent 12-14 percent of new HIV infections, said IMANI Executive Director Allen Robinson.

Deb Kutzko, nurse practitioner coordinator at the Comprehensive Care Clinic at Fletcher Allen Health Care, told the crowd that many people in the region do not consider themselves at risk for HIV/AIDS. "We don't see HIV as a problem in this state," said Kutzko. "It's not part of our consciousness." CCC works closely with the Women of Color Alliance to conduct HIV/AIDS outreach to minority communities in the area.

Robinson said fear and denial prevent many minorities from confronting the issues around HIV/AIDS, but the population he works with is becoming more willing to discuss prevention, testing, and treatment. "I've been doing this work for 10 years and I've seen people become more and more comfortable with sharing information. You have to develop a rapport with individuals and then they feel comfortable coming back."

Back to other news for February 9, 2007