Arizona: Flagstaff HIV, AIDS Support Center Revived

The HIV/AIDS service and support organization, Northland Cares, has reopened in Flagstaff, after it closed in 2006 due to a funding loss. Since then, patients in northern Arizona had to travel to Prescott to obtain the services Northland had been offering locally. Many of the remaining HIV/AIDS organizations in Flagstaff are oriented more to medical needs.

Northland is opening with the help of a variety of local, state, and federal grants. "Finally, at last, we have a center we can work out of," said Larry O'Daniel, a volunteer at the group.

Within its service area, which includes Yavapai, Coconino, Gila, Mohave, and Apache counties, there are 1,200-1,400 HIV-positive residents, Northland Cares estimates. About 10 percent of those infected do not know it.

Within the Flagstaff Support Center's service area -- from Kingman to Winslow -- there are about 500 people with HIV/AIDS, and likely the same number of people are infected but are unaware of it, said Ron Edwards, FSC's site manager. "There's a very big need" for Northland Cares, he added.

Northland Cares' Flagstaff office will be able to offer about 25 people a month free, confidential HIV testing, with results available in about 20 minutes, said Edwards. The agency also will provide HIV physicians and nurses periodically, wellness clinics, support groups, as well as naturopathic, diet, and massage services, he said. New clients will be assigned a case manager in coordination with the county health department.

Besides connecting clients with people coping with the same disease issues and life situations, the agency helps people qualify for federal AIDS drug assistance, Edwards said.

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