New group formed to combat HIV/AIDS in metro Atlanta

By Shelia M. Poole

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

AIDS remains a persistent killer of Atlantans, prompting the formation of a new group to help combat the spread of the disease throughout the metro area.

The Atlanta AIDS Partnership, created through the efforts of the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, intends to reinvigorate community efforts in dealing with HIV/AIDS, director Ray Knott said. 

In recent years, local AIDS emphasis has waned.

"No one is standing on the capital steps right now," Knott said.

The reason for this is people are living longer with the disease and the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS is such that people are less likely to get tested or admit they have the disease.

It's estimated that about 1.1 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV/AIDS and one in five doesn't even realize he or she is infected.

"There's a whole generation who have never seen anyone die of AIDS," Knott said.

The idea for the new organization emerged last year. The Atlanta AIDS Partnership will coordinate and plan strategies around HIV/AIDS and its effect on the metro area, and the Atlanta AIDS Fund, formerly known as the Atlanta AIDS Partnership Fund, will continue to make grants to community and AIDS service organizations. Formed nearly two decades ago, the fund has awarded $11 million to local groups.

AIDS has had a devastating impact on Georgia, which ranks eighth nationally for the rate of AIDS cases per 100,000 residents, according to the Georgia Department of  Community Health. And of those diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 2008, 77 percent were African Americans.

Tracy Elliott, AID Atlanta executive director, called the Atlanta AIDS Partnership an encouraging development. "Let's hope that what it does is reignite the community to get behind getting the epidemic in Atlanta under control, which it currently is not," Elliott said.