Airs Thursday, November 2, 2017, at 6 p.m. Baton Rouge and New Orleans consistently rank among the top three cities nationwide for the highest HIV and AIDS rates per capita. And in rural Louisiana, the number of new HIV infections has risen slightly with infected individuals more likely to escalate to an AIDS diagnosis. So, how many people are living with HIV/AIDS in Louisiana and what resources are available to assist them? Why has the state seen an overall decline in new HIV diagnosis but an increase in its rural areas? What affect is the PrEP drug regimen having on stabilizing and preventing the disease? Louisiana Public Square looks for answers to these questions and more on “HIV/AIDS in Louisiana."
Our Panel Will Feature
• Eugene Collins, HIV/AIDS Alliance for Region Two
• Jamar Ennis, Louisiana Youth for Excellence
• Tavell Kindall, DNP, The Greater Ouachita Coalition Providing AIDS Resources (GOCARE)
• Lauren Richey, M.D., Infectious Diseases, LSU Health Sciences Center
LPB CEO, Beth Courtney and LPB news anchor, Andre’ Moreau moderate the discussion. The program also features interviews with DeAnn Gruber, Ph.D. with the Louisiana Department of Health; Monica Johnson, the HIV+ founder of the northeast Louisiana support group, H.E.R.O.E.S.; and Waref Azmeh, M.D., infectious disease physician with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Baton Rouge.