The AIDS Network unveiled its new Halton-specific outreach and awareness poster campaign and announced the hiring of Rebecca Skibinski as a case manager for the region.

The announcement was made at Halton Region to mark the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day (Dec. 1), and as part of AIDS Awareness Week 2008.

The AIDS Network is a member of AIDS Action Halton, a partnership also involving the Halton Region Public Health Department, The Miriam Group, The Posse Project and other community organizations serving the region.

Also announced was that the Halton Region Health Department's Sexual Health Clinic has implemented anonymous Point of Care HIV testing in all four of its clinic sites in Burlington, Acton, Milton and Georgetown.

Anonymous testing is to encourage those at high risk of exposure to HIV to get tested. Point of Care screens for the detection of antibodies to HIV by using a single drop of blood; it can be determined in 60 seconds whether or not an individual has developed antibodies to HIV.

“This is a remarkable commitment to ensure easy and confidential access to HIV testing in this region,” Adrian Betts, interim executive director of The AIDS Network, said in a news release. “There are approximately 17,000 Canadians living with HIV who don't even know it. New initiatives like this are a tremendous step forward in the fight against this deadly disease.”

The new case manager position to be filled by Skibinski is funded by the Ministry of Health's AIDS Bureau. She will be responsible for support programs to all Halton residents infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.

“I am very pleased funding has been made available for a case manager dedicated to persons living with HIV in Halton Region,” Jean Round, executive director of The Miriam Child and Family Support Group, said in a release.

The Miriam group is a Burlington-based organization catering to the needs of HIV infected/affected children and their families in Halton and Hamilton.

Skibinski said her role will differ from the Miriam group's in that she will focus more on individual counselling with the infected person and within Halton.

“I do all the things all the (AIDS Network) case managers do elsewhere except I'm doing it in Halton.”

The AIDS Network, through its case managers, helps HIV/AIDS individuals with immigration and housing issues, provides free vitamins and supplements recommended by HIV physicians, facilitates access to special medication through the Trillium Foundation and Ontario Disability Support Program, and offers free access to one of three food programs that provide fresh fruits and vegetables, boxed foods and prepared frozen meals.

The network also arranges for support groups, workshops and social outings.

Skibinski said in 2003 Halton was estimated to have 164 people with the HIV virus, which leads to AIDS, and another 94 had AIDS. The statistics are from a study compiled by the department of health sciences at the University of Toronto.

She said the Halton Region Health Unit reported 14 new diagnoses of HIV/AIDS in the region in 2007. Halton is ranked 15th out of 37 regions in Ontario in terms of the rate of HIV diagnosis per 100,000 people.

“It's difficult for us to know how many people have HIV/AIDS in Halton,” Skibinski said.

Some may be unwilling to acknowledge they are infected and others may not know, she said.

“There is a perception out there that HIV doesn't exist in Halton,” she said.

For information, call Skibinski at 905-528-0854, ext. 226, or 1-866-563-0563, or e-mail her at rebeccas@aidsnetwork.ca .

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According to the Mayo Clinic website ( www.mayoclinic.com ), “AIDS is a chronic, life-threatening condition caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). By damaging your immune system, HIV interferes with your body's ability to fight off viruses, bacteria and fungi that cause disease. HIV makes you more susceptible to cer-tain types of cancers and to infections your body would normally resist, such as pneumonia and meningitis. The virus and the infection itself are known as HIV. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is the name given to the later stages of an HIV infection.

“Anyone of any age, race, sex or sexual orientation can be infected with HIV, but you're at greatest risk of HIV/AIDS if you:

• Have unprotected sex with multiple partners. You're at risk whether you're heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual. Unprotected sex means having sex without using a new latex or polyurethane condom every time.

• Have unprotected sex with someone who is HIV-positive.

• Have another sexually transmitted disease, such as syphilis, herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea or bacterial vaginosis.

• Share needles during intravenous drug use.

• Received a blood transfusion or blood products before 1985.

• Have fewer copies of a gene called CCL3L1 that helps fight HIV infection.

• Newborns or nursing infants whose mothers tested positive for HIV but did not receive treatment also are at high risk.”