Newsroom > DHHS News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 30, 2007

CONTACTS
Ann Chambers, Disease Prevention & Health Promotion, (402) 471-9098, ann.chambers@dhhs.ne.gov
Bill Wiley, Communications & Legislative Services, (402) 471-6585, bill.wiley@dhhs.ne.gov

Lincoln – The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) encourages all Nebraskans to observe the 20^th annual World AIDS Day on Saturday, December 1.

"Since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, individual people acted on their own and played heroic roles in helping and caring for people living with AIDS," said Dr. Joanne Schaefer, Chief Medical Officer of Nebraska.

In Nebraska, men make up 77% of new infections. Fifty-four percent of these men are White, 27% are African American, 16% are Hispanic, 2% are American Indian and 1% are Asian/Pacific Islanders. Women comprise 23% of the new cases, with 39% White, 45% African American, 10% Hispanic, 3% Native American and 3% Asian/Pacific Islander. The prevalence of HIV/AIDS between these racial/ethnic groups indicates a significant disparity among these populations.

The DHHS HIV Prevention Program is continuing its "The Risk is NOT Knowing" campaign. The goal of the campaign is to promote HIV testing of all at-risk people in Nebraska. It is also to encourage individuals to care for someone affected by AIDS or talk about AIDS prevention. The campaign was designed in collaboration with University of Nebraska-Lincoln advertising students.

The HIV epidemic continues to increase in Nebraska, with nearly 1,957 Nebraskans diagnosed and reported with HIV and AIDS between 1985 and the end of 2006. One third of those have died, according to Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. There are more persons living with HIV each year as HIV treatments continue to improve the lifespan of persons with HIV/AIDS. At the end of 2006, 1,402 persons with HIV/AIDS lived in Nebraska.

For information about HIV/AIDS prevention in Nebraska, contact the DHHS HIV/AIDS Prevention Program at (402) 471-9098 or check the DHHS Web site at http://www.dhhs.ne.gov/dpc/HIV.htm.

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