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HIV Education Increasing in Cabell County Save Email Print
Posted: 6:12 PM Jul 3, 2008
Last Updated: 9:57 PM Jul 3, 2008
Reporter: Dave Benton
Email Address: dave.benton@wsaz.com

A | A | A

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- HIV and AIDS are still a huge health crisis in the country.

In Huntington alone, there is a 14% increase in the number of HIV infections and a 20% increase in sexually transmitted diseases over the last few years.

Todd Jones is the director of the Fusion Network, one of two community based programs in Huntington aimed at battling the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Fusion is open for males 19 to 29 who are gay or bisexual and want an alternative to the bar scene or public areas where anonymous sex is prevalent.

"I think most people in the community would rather see a safe haven and community resources than for people to engage in unsafe practices," Todd Jones said.

Jones says Fusion is also a resource center with workshops and activities.

The other community based program helping educate people about S.T.Ds, in particular HIV and AIDS, is the Ebenezer Medical Outreach on the first floor of the Douglass Center. The program here targets the poor and minorities, who are also high risk groups for the disease.

"If people don't know HIV is still a threat in Cabell County, they won't be tested," Jennifer Walls at the Cabell Huntington Health Department said. "There's a lot of misconceptions."

Jennifer Walls says she sees the need for more education, prevention and counseling surrounding a disease without a cure.

You can learn more about the Fusion Network by calling them at 781-3881.

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Posted by: Derric on Jul 15, 2008 at 09:23 AM
Good program for our community. We would like to see more articles about GLBT services in the TriState area.

Posted by: Michael E on Jul 8, 2008 at 08:14 AM
I don't understand why people have to target gay and bisexual men as being easily effected with HIV/AIDS. Studies have shown that gay and bisexual men are not even the highest rate of transmission almost anywhere on the globe. It may come as a shock but the highest rate of HIV transmission is in the elderly and senior citizens now. Yes, this is a shocking but true stat. I love the idea of fusion network of Huntington and Capital Mpowerment in Charleston. They run off the same model which is from Mpowerment. If you want info on this program please contact www.mpowerment.org. or capitalmpowerment.org. I want to say congrats to both Todd Jones and Tim Woodruff both of huntington who run the Fusion Network for all your efforts and "breaking out of the norm". The idea and the project is a wonderful idea and with help of the community these programs will continue to grow. Thanks, Michael Egnor Project Facilitator of Capital Mpowerment

Posted by: Travis on Jul 7, 2008 at 12:31 PM
This program is really an amazing effort in our community. Thank you for highlighting all the hard work.

Posted by: Beta on Jul 3, 2008 at 09:34 PM
Seems the medicine and technology are becoming more and more advanced. Not sure if any doctor can cure HIV or AIDS. I heard that bisexuals or gays are easily infected with that. But I have some bisexual friends on the site BiLoves, they told me they haven't been like that since there are some experts like Beth to guide them about that.

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