'HIV in the Valley' opens student eyes

In preparation for World AIDS Day Dec. 1, the executive director of the Valley AIDS Network in Harrisonburg spoke to JMU students Wednesday in Taylor Hall.

Chuck Schuller presented "HIV in the Valley," a discussion of AIDS awareness and prevention, as well as statistics of AIDS cases locally and worldwide. He explained that the AIDS virus is "not just gay man's disease" anymore.

"Ten years ago, AIDS was on the front page. It isn't anymore, and I think because of that there is a general sense of ‘we solved the AIDS crisis.' But the reality is that more and more people are living with full-blown AIDS. It's true in the Shenandoah Valley and in the United States."

According to Schuller, there are 151 HIV infections and 171 AIDS infections in the Shenandoah Valley. He also said more than 26,000 people in Virginia are infected by HIV or AIDS and there are 36.1 million cases worldwide.

"A person living with HIV, to manage their disease, can spend more than $1,000 a month for medications alone," Schuller said. "Many individuals do not have adequate insurance or any insurance, and it's those kinds of needs that we help take care of."

V.A.N. is a non-profit agency established in 1989 that assists Valley residents who are infected with HIV or AIDS. V.A.N. provides financial assistance for medical and housing expenses, along with support groups. In 2001, V.A.N. served 32 clients.

Sophomore Wes Deviers said, "(The numbers) were higher than I expected. I live here and I grew up in Keezletown, so it was more than I expected."
Deviers said the HIV epidemic doesn't really scare him, but it's more of an "I didn't expect this in my backyard thing."

Young people are very much at risk of contracting HIV, Schuller said. According to Schuller, half of all new HIVinfections in the United States involve people under 25 and one in every 500 college students is infected. As of 1999, more than 3,200 people under the age of 25 had died from AIDS in the United States as a result of heterosexual contact.

"I didn't know there was this organization (V.A.N.)," sophomore Caroline Westover said. "You don't really hear a lot about that kind of thing."

Part of V.A.N.'s mission is to spread HIV and AIDS awareness. Schuller said many people know how to prevent infection, but don't practice that behavior. Schuller expressed concern that AIDS has fallen from national news.

According to him, one reason is that there was success in AIDS prevention in the gay communities, creating a false sense of safety when the dangers are still out there.

"I also think that perhaps our efforts to really continue and educate and make people aware of what they need to do kind of fell off," Schuller said. "As a result, people today are not well informed and aren't taking the precautions simply because of that."

According to Schuller, the best way to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS simply is to get the word out.

"I think getting the word out is our most important priority," Schuller said. "Together, the Valley AIDS Network and the community can really make a difference."

Schuller spoke for about 45 minutes and then answered questions. His presentation was sponsored by the University Health Center.
For more information about V.A.N. and how to help, contact Schuller at 564-0448 or by e-mail at valleyaids@ntelos.net.