Virginia: Task Force Working on AIDS Awareness

The West Piedmont AIDS Task Force serves clients in Martinsville, Henry, Patrick, and Franklin counties, providing government-funded medical care, housing, support, and utility services. Thomas Salyer, WPATF's case manager/awareness coordinator, said that despite the group's presence, many people in the area are not knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS. WPATF serves approximately 100 clients, and it has seen about a 10 percent increase in the number of people it assists over the past five years.

According to Salyer, many residents believe HIV/AIDS occurs only in urban areas, and WPATF is working to increase public awareness about the disease. However, since WPATF does not have steady funding for prevention activities, Salyer generally does the work on his own time.

At first, Salyer said some stakeholder organizations "slammed the door in his face" when he approached them, but now his efforts are paying off. Churches have contributed around $3,500 for education and awareness programs, though a solicitation to physicians was less successful, he noted.

After approaching the NAACP, Salyer said the organization is considering sponsoring a poster campaign in places such as hair salons and barbershops. It is also looking into holding a health fair that would offer HIV testing, he said.

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