EXCELLENCE AND LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

AND FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

HELLO AND WELCOME TO "LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE" I'M BETH COURT -- COURTNEY, PRESIDENT OF LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

MODERATING THE DISCUSSION TONIGHT AND WHAT AN IMPORTANT TOPIC.

ISN'T IT EVER?

THREE YEARS AGO, "LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE" EXPLORED THIS SAME TOPIC AND THEN UNFORTUNATELY, NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED.

BATON ROUGE AND NEW ORLEANS REMAIN IN THE TOP THREE CITIES FOR NEW H.I.V.

DIAGNOSIS.

GAY AND BISEXUAL MEN STILL ACCOUNT FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE DIAGNOSIS AND THE RATES AMONG BLACKS REMAIN DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH.

THE NUMBER OF BLACK MALES LIVING WITH H.I.V.

IS FOUR TIMES THAT OF WHITE MALES.

FOR BLACK FEMALES, IT'S NEARLY 12 TIMES THAT OF WHITE FEMALES.

WELL, THE NEWS IS NOT ALL BAD, ANDRE.

LOUISIANA HAS SURPASSED THE C.D.C.

'S NATIONAL GOALS FOR H.I.V.

TESTING.

AND DECREASING LATE STAGE DIAGNOSIS.

82% OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH H.I.V.

ARE KNOWN TO CARE AND 71% OF PEOPLE WITH H.I.V.

HAVE REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF VIRUS IN THEIR BLOOD TO UNDETECTIBLE LEVELS.

BUT CHALLENGES STILL REMAIN.

PARTICULARLY IN LOUISIANA'S RURAL AREAS.

TONIGHT, WE'LL EXAMINE THE MANY EFFORTS TAKING PLACE TO TACKLE THESE DISEASES.

AND MEDICINE CALLED PREP THAT COULD POSSIBLY END THE H.I.V.

EPIDEMIC.

FIRST, AN OVERVIEW.

A YEAR AFTER GETTING A BLOOD TRANSFUSION IN 1984, MONICA JOHNSON RECEIVED A LETTER SAYING THE DONOR HAD DIED FROM ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFICIENCY SYNDROME.

THE ADVANCE STAGE OF H.I.V.

SHE WAS TESTED BUT THE RESULTS WERE INCONCLUSIVE.

I WAS IN COLLEGE.

I WAS LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT?

THIS DOESN'T APPLY TO ME ANYWAY BECAUSE I'M NOT WHITE, I'M NOT GAY.

I'M NOT A MAN.

THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE SAYING THE MODES OF TRANSMISSION, WHO WAS, YOU KNOW, TRANSMITTING THE VIRUS.

WHEN SHE BECAME PREGNANT, THE OB/GYN RAN ANOTHER TEST AND THIS BECAME POSITIVE FOR H.I.V.

AND HER SON WAS BORN WITH THE DISEASE.

WORD GOT OUT ABOUT HER STATUS IN THE RURAL COMMUNITY AND SHE WAS SHUNNED.

THEY DIDN'T WANT ME TO WORK THERE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT ME AROUND THE KIDS.

IF I WENT TO THE DRUGSTORE, THEY WOULD DISINFECT THE COUNTER BEFORE I WENT OUT.

IF I WAS WALKING DOWNTOWN, PEOPLE WOULD CROSS THE STREET.

MONICA BECAME AN ADVOCATE FOR HER SON AND FOLLOWING HIS DEATH THREE YEARS LATER FOR HERSELF AND THE MANY H.I.V.

POSITIVE WOMEN SHE MET.

SHE FOUNDED HEROES.

AN ACRONYM FOR HELPING EVERYONE RECEIVE ONGOING EFFECTIVE SUPPORT.

THE GROUP RELEASED A REPORT THIS SEPTEMBER.

HIGHLIGHTING H.I.V.

IN 12 RURAL PARISHES OF NORTHEAST LOUISIANA.

MORE THAN 15% OF PEOPLE LIVING WITH H.I.V.

RESIDE IN RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE.

WHILE THERE HAS BEEN A 14% OVERALL DROP IN LOUISIANA, AIDS DIAGNOSES, RURAL LOUISIANA SAW A NEARLY 1% INCREASE IN THESE DIAGNOSES.

STIGMA.

PEOPLE TEST LATE.

LACK OF EDUCATION.

SO MANY PEOPLE, THEY HEAR THE WORDS AND THEY JUST -- THEY SHUT IT DOWN.

DR.

DEEANNE GRUBER IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND SHE CONFIRMS THE CHALLENGES FOR THOSE LIVING WITH H.I.V.

BUT NOTES THE MOST RECENT DATA SHOWS AN IMPROVEMENT IN AIDS DIAGNOSES.

WE SAW IN 2014 IN THIS RURAL REGION OF THE STATE THAT 34% OF INDIVIDUALS HAD PROGRESSED TO AN AIDS DIAGNOSIS WITHIN ONE YEAR.

HOWEVER, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NEXT JUNE, 2015, WE SAW THAT HAD DECREASED TO 27% OF ALL INDIVIDUALS NEWLY DIAGNOSED HAD PROGRESSED TO AN AIDS DIAGNOSIS.

LOUISIANA CURRENTLY RANKS NUMBER TWO NATIONALLY FOR H.I.V.

RATES.

BATON ROUGE AND NEW ORLEANS RANK SECOND AND THIRD FOR NEW H.I.V.

DIAGNOSES AMONG MAJOR U.S.

METROPOLITAN AREAS.

ON AVERAGE OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY ANYWHERE BETWEEN 1125 AND 1150 INDIVIDUALS DIAGNOSEED IN THE STATE.

THAT HAS BECOME STEADY.

THE PRIMARY TRANSMISSION CONTINUES TO BE SEXUAL CONTACT AT 82%.

FOR WOMEN, HETEROSEXUAL SEXUAL RELATIONS AT 88%.

18% OF RESIDENTS ARE H.I.V.

POSITIVE BUT DON'T KNOW THEIR STATUS.

TO ATTACK THE DISEASE, GRUBER SAYS THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SPONSORS OVER 100,000 FREE H.I.V.

TESTS AROUND THE STATE.

INCORPORATES TESTING INTO MANY ROUTINE EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS.

AND LINKS H.I.V.

POSITIVE INDIVIDUALS WITH CARE THROUGH CONTRACTS WITH SEVEN COMMUNITY-BASED CLINICS.

WE ALSO HAVE COORDINATORS THAT IF WE IDENTIFY SOMEBODY WHO HAS NOT SEEN A MEDICAL PROVIDER FOR AT LEAST NINE MONTHS, THAT LINKS TO THE CARE COORDINATOR AND WE HAVE 10 OF THEM LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE WHO THEN GO AND LOCATE THEM AND REALLY HELP TO ASSESS WHAT IS GOING ON THAT WE CAN HELP, YOU KNOW, GET THEM INTO CARE.

THE DEPARTMENT ALSO OFFERS AN ON-LINE CLEARINGHOUSE OF INFORMATION CALLED LOUISIANA HEALTH HUB.ORG AND THE LATEST CONTRACT WITH THE STATE'S MEDICAID MANAGED CARE PROVIDER MAKES THE SUPPRESSION OF THE VIRUS IN H.I.V.

PATIENTS ONE OF ITS PERFORMANCE MEASURES.

WE HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE NOW AND THE SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE THAT YOU EQUAL YOU EQUAL UNDETECTIBLE EQUAL UNTRANSMISSABLE.

THIS IS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE PHYSICIAN WITH THE AIDS HEALTH CARE FOUNDATION IN BATON ROUGE.

HE SAYS CURRENT H.I.V.

DRUGS CAN REDUCE THE VIRUS IN A PATIENT'S BLOOD TO AN UNDETECTIBLE LEVEL.

AN INDIVIDUAL WHO IS VIRALLY SUPPRESSED CAN'T TRANSMIT THE DISEASE.

THE LATEST MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGH, THOUGH, IS A PROTOCOL THAT CAN PREVENT PEOPLE FROM EVEN CONTRACTING H.I.V.

PREP STANDS FOR PREEXPOSURE PROCEDURE.

RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT PREEXPOSURE PROFALAXSIS WITH A MEDICINE THAT IF SOMEBODY IS H.I.V.

NEGATIVE AND TAKE THE PREP ON A DAILY BASIS, HE DOES NOT CONTRACT H.I.V.

WHILE PREP SERVICES ARE OFFERED IN 15 LOCATIONS SURROUNDING BATON ROUGE AND NEW ORLEANS, THERE'S ONLY ONE PREP PROVIDER AND ONE PUBLIC H.I.V.

HEALTH CARE CLINIC IN NORTHEAST LOUISIANA.

GRUBER SAYS THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS TRYING TO ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES.

YOU KNOW, THEY TAKE AN HOUR AND A HALF OR MORE FOR SOMEBODY TO BE ABLE TO TRAVEL TO AN H.I.V.

CLINIC OR A PROVIDER WHO CAN TREAT THEM.

AND WE ALSO AGAIN, SEE, TOO, THAT STIGMA MAY BE MORE PREVALENT IN RURAL AREAS COMPARED TO IN THE METROPOLITAN CITIES.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, WE KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THOSE RURAL AREAS.

WE LOOK AT OUR RESOURCES.

DIFFERENT INTERVENTIONS THAT WE CAN DO TO TRY TO ADDRESS THAT.

MONICA WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THAT STIGMA NOW HOLDS AN ANNUAL CAMP FOR H.I.V.

POSITIVE WOMEN TO OFFER SUPPORT IN EDUCATION.

SHE CAUTIONS INDIVIDUALS NOT TO BECOME COMPLACENT ABOUT THE DISEASE.

IN LOUISIANA, PEOPLE THINK IT'S HANDLED.

IT'S NOT HANDLED.

AND PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THEIR STATUS.

GET TESTED.

JOINING US IN OUR STUDIO TO DISCUSS H.I.V.

AIDS IN LOUISIANA ARE PEOPLE FROM THE GREATER BATON ROUGE AREA.

THEY INCLUDE PEOPLE FROM THE FIELD OF HEALTH CARE, A DRUG COMPANY REP AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO USE VALUES EDUCATION TO COMBAT THE DISEASE.

WE'RE ALSO JOINED BY MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL.

WE WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE.

L.S.U.

'S PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH LAB SURVEYED OVER 100 CITIZENS ON THIS TOPIC IN THE PAST FOR US AND AMONG THE SURVEY RESPONSES WERE ASKED WHY THEY THINK BATON ROUGE'S AIDS RATES ARE SO HIGH, THE TOP THREE ANSWERS CHOSEN WERE POOR SEX EDUCATION AT 38%.

LACK OF ACCESS TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE, 13%.

AND INADEQUATE H.I.V.

TESTING, 10%.

NOW, WHILE LOUISIANA DOESN'T REQUIRE SEX EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHEN IT IS TAUGHT, IT MUST BE ABSTINENCE CENTERED.

OF THOSE SURVEYED, 61% SUPPORT THIS APPROACH.

30% OPPOSE IT.

9% REFUSE TO ANSWER OR WERE UNSURE.

DESPITE THE SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FOR CURRENT ABSENCE OF SEX EDUCATION AND LARGER PERCENT OF STUDENTS, TO SUPPORT A MORE COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO THE SUBJECT, 22%, THOUGH, OPPOSE THAT.

AND WHEN ASKED THEIR CONCERN ABOUT THEIR FRIENDS OR THEMSELVES BEING EFFECTIVE WITH THE H.I.V.

VIRUS, RESPONDENTS WERE REALLY EVENLY SPLIT.

A TOTAL OF 53% WERE SOMEWHAT OR VERY CONCERNED WHILE A TOTAL OF 47% WERE NOT AT ALL CONCERNED.

SO LET'S START RIGHT THERE.

HOW CONCERNED SHOULD PEOPLE BE ABOUT H.I.V.

AND AIDS AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO BRING THE NUMBER OF CASES DOWN?

WE'LL START WITH OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE AND SYLVIA, LET ME BEGIN WITH YOU.

YOU WORK FOR THE GROUP CALLED GILEAD.

I DO.

I'M HERE REPRESENTING MYSELF AS A COMMUNITY MEMBER, I DO NOT SPEAK FOR THE COMPANY ITSELF.

BUT I'M JUST REALLY INTERESTED IN LEARNING HOW TO SUPPORT CLINICS AND HOSPITALS AS THEY RAMP UP OPT OUT TESTING.

THE COMPANY DOES WHAT?

GLIEAD.

IT DOES WHAT?

PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANY THAT PROVIDES H.I.V.

AND HEPATITIS MEDICATION.

GOT IT.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

I THINK IF WE GET THE INFORMATION AND ABOUT THE UNDUE EQUAL VIEW AND AGAIN, THAT'S UNDETECTIBLE EQUALS UNTRANSMITTABLE, GET THE INFORMATION ABOUT PREP AND PEP OUT AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO AN EFFECTIVE JOB OF GETTING THAT INFORMATION OUT LIKE POUNDING THE PAVEMENT AND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THAT THERE ARE NOW SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO NOT ONLY PREVENT PEOPLE FROM GETTING INFECTED WITH THIS DISEASE BUT IT ALSO IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO TO HELP A PERSON THAT MAY THINK THAT HE OR SHE MAY HAVE GOTTEN EXPOSED TO THE INFECTION IF THEY SEEK TREATMENT WITHIN 72 HOURS.

SO THE KEY IS GOING TO BE REALLY GETTING THE INFORMATION OUT.

LETTING PEOPLE KNOW, GETTING THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHERE WE'RE GOING TO END THIS EPIDEMIC.

GAVE THE INFORMATION OUT.

IT'S CERTAINLY THE DUTY OF MANY GROUPS.

ONE GROUP IN TOWN WOULD BE HEART OF BATON ROUGE AND TIM YOUNG HEADS THAT UP.

SO ARE YOU GUYS EFFECTIVELY GETTING THE WORD OUT FOR ONE THING AND HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THIS PROGRESS AND CHANGE IN THE SEVERAL YEARS YOU'VE HEADED UP THIS GROUP IN BATON ROUGE?

IT'S CHANGED QUITE A BIT, ANDRE.

I STARTED WITH THIS ORGANIZATION 20 YEARS AGO AND PEOPLE WERE JUST RECEIVING THE DRUG COCKTAILS THAT WERE HELPING THEM TO GET OFF THEIR DEATH BEDS.

WE SEE NOW PEOPLE GOING BACK TO WORK AND PATIENTS RELATIVELY DON'T GO TO THE HOSPITAL ANYMORE BECAUSE IF THEY'RE ON A MEDICATION THAT'S EFFECTIVELY KEEPING THEIR VIRAL LOAD DOWN TO AN UNDETECTIBLE LEVEL, THEY DON'T REALLY GET SICK SO THEY HAVE THE SAME LIVES THEY DID BEFORE THEY BECAME H.I.V.

WHAT WE'RE NOT DOING IS WE'RE NOT EFFECTIVELY GETTING THE MESSAGE OUT TO THE PRIMARY TARGET GROUP THAT WE SHOULD BE.

MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN AND THEY NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN BEHAVIOR.

STILL ALL OF OUR NEW INFECTI TH LACK OF RECEPTIVENESS WHEN YOU GO TO THE FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY AND WE KNOW WE CAN'T DO IT IN THE SCHOOL AND WHAT TROUBLES ME ABOUT THIS IS THAT WE STILL GOT TOO MANY YOUNG BLACK MALES OF THOSE YOUNG -- THAT DON'T FALL INTO THOSE SECTORS WHERE YOU CAN EASILY GET INFORMATION TO AND SO HOW WE BEGIN TO ACCESS THAT COMMUNITY MAKE CERTAIN THERE'S NOT JUST RISKY BEHAVIOR BUT THERE'S CONSEQUENCES TO THAT RISKY BEHAVIOR.

SEVERAL YEARS, BATON ROUGE WAS NUMBER ONE PER CAPITA.

NOW NUMBER TWO.

NEW ORLEANS IS NUMBER THREE PER CAPITA.

JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, IS AND ATLANTA FOUR AND FIVE.

SO REALLY, SOUTHERN CITIES SEEM TO BE THE HIGHER PER CAPITA.

AND THE BLACK RACE DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES TO MIND AS PART OF THIS DISCUSSION, I THINK THAT THERE'S A LARGE NUMBER OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN THAT ARE LIVING WITH H.I.V.

AND ARE NEWLY DIAGNOSED EACH YEAR.

THERE'S BEEN AN EMPHASIS ON MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN.

AND I THINK THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF WOMEN, AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN LIVING WITH H.I.V.

AND THE NEWLY DIAGNOSED WOMEN EACH YEAR, THERE SHOULD BE SOME EMPHASIS THAT'S GEARED TOWARDS AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN.

AND I THINK THAT THAT SHOULD BECOME AN IMPORTANT POPULATION AND IT'S NOT ONE THAT IS BEING ADDRESSED.

THAT THE CAMPAIGNS FEATURE BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE IS NOT MORE EDUCATION FOR HETEROSEXUAL AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN.

QUESTION.

LET ME -- WE ALL SAY EVERYONE SHOULD BE TESTED.

SO RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU'VE BEEN TESTED.

EVERYONE NOT BEEN TESTED.

TWO PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN TESTED HERE TO THE YOUNGER PEOPLE, OF COURSE.

WHAT ABOUT THE STIGMA?

THERE'S SEVERAL STIGMAS ATTACHED.

AND THIS GOES HAND IN HAND WITH IT CAN COME WITH RELIGION AND COME WITH YOUR UPBRINGING, YOUR ETHNICITY.

ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

WHAT ABOUT THAT?

HOW DO WE OVERCOME THAT?

I THINK ABOUT THAT STIGMA AS WELL BECAUSE I'M ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.

BUT I ALSO AM INVOLVED IN THE WORK OF THE URBAN CONGRESS OR AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES AND WE DEAL WITH SEVERAL THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT -- WE FEEL ARE IMPORTANT TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALES TO CHANGING THE EXPERIENCE IN BATON ROUGE AND WE HAVE TO HAVE INNOVATIVE WAYS OF REACHING THESE GUYS BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, THERE'S A STIGMA THAT'S THERE SO EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE THE INFORMATION FOR THEM, HOW DO WE CREATE A BETTER WAY TO GIVE THEM ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION?

SO THAT EDUCATION?

AND TO IF NOT MAKE THAT COOL, AT LEAST MAKE IT MORE RECEPTIVE OF IT.

DO WE PUT IT IN A COMMERCIAL BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE A COMMERCIAL.

IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING THAT MAY NOT FIT ME.

DO WE GIVE THIS A DIFFERENT FACE?

DO WE REALLY -- EVEN THOUGH WE PUT OUR STATS OF MEN HAVING SEX WITH MEN IN A DISPROPORTIONATE RATE OF THAT, DO WE SHOW ALSO THAT HETEROSEXUAL MEN HAVE CONTRACTED THIS AND DO WE ALLOW THOSE MEN OR EMBRACE THOSE MEN THAT ADVOCATE AS MUCH AS WE DO GAY MEN TO PREVENT BECAUSE THEIR MAIN THING IS TO PREVENT THIS AS WELL.

IF ANYBODY REMEMBERS IN THE 1980s, THEY REMEMBER THE DEATH SENTENCE, 1990s, THE DEATH SENTENCE THAT AIDS WAS FOR SO MANY.

AND THAT HAS CHANGED WITH DRUGS, BUT THERE IS STILL NO CURE YET.

EVEN THOUGH THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MONEY SPENT IN FUNDING.

IN 2017, SHOULD THERE BE A STIGMA?

SHOULD WE STILL BE FIGHTING A STIGMA?

I THINK IT REALLY GOES TO THE QUESTION YOU ASKED AT THE BEGINNING.

IS THIS SOMETHING WE SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT?

I THINK WE HAVE TO MOVE BEYOND IS THIS SOMETHING I PERSONALLY NEED TO BE WORRIED ABOUT?

AND CERTAINLY THAT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY IS PART OF IT.

BUT IS THIS SOMETHING OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO BE WORRIED ABOUT?

TO SHARON'S POINT, THE INTERVENTION THAT ULTIMATELY TAKES US FORWARD TO THE NEXT STEP IN ERADICATING H.I.V.

IS GOING TO BE ONE THAT LOOKS AT EVERYONE WHO IS AT RISK.

AND THE WHOLE COMMUNITY IS AT RISK.

WE CAN'T SAY IT'S NOT ME.

IT'S NOT MY PROBLEM.

IT NEEDS TO BE ALL INCLUSIVE.

EVERYBODY.

HOW ABOUT SOME OF THE YOUNGER FOLKS?

WELL, I KNOW LIKE YOU WERE SPEAKING ON URBAN COMMUNITY.

WELL, I KNOW THAT IT'S VERY HARD FOR NO MATTER WHAT RACE YOU ARE, IT'S JUST HARD TO, YOU KNOW, COME OUT BECAUSE YOU GET -- YOU GET LIKE CRITICIZED OR DIFFERENT THINGS OR BECAUSE YOU HAVE THIS DISEASE, AND LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT BUT I THINK THAT IT IS VERY HARD FOR PEOPLE, AGAIN, TO COME OUT AND JUST WALK IN THE STORE AND BE LIKE HEY, LET ME GET THIS.

SO LIKE YOU WERE SAYING, THE WAY TO GET IT OUT WOULD BE EACH RACE HELPING EACH RACE OUT.

LIKE I DON'T THINK IT JUST SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON JUST THE BLACK COMMUNITY OR FOCUSED ON JUST THE WHITE COMMUNITY OR WHATEVER ETHNICITY YOU ARE.

IT'S JUST A COMMUNITY THING THAT NEEDS TO BE PUT TO GET THE WORD OUT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

WOW.

SKIN COLOR IS, OBVIOUSLY, NOT INVOLVED IN THIS.

IT'S EVERYBODY.

I THINK IT'S PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE EMBRACING PEOPLE.

THAT'S ONE PLACE WE COULD START.

BEEN THERE A LONG TIME.

THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR THIS PORTION OF OUR SHOW.

WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'RE GOING TO BE JOINED BY A PANEL OF EXPERTS TO FURTHER EXPLORE H.I.V./AIDS IN LOUISIANA.

WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE TO "LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE."

TONIGHT, WE'RE DISCUSSING H.I.V.

AND AIDS IN LOUISIANA.

JOINING US NOW IS OUR PANEL OF EXPERTS.

DR.

CAVEL KENDALL IS A BOARD CERTIFIED FAMILY NURSE PRACTITIONER WITH THE GREATER COALITION PROVIDING AIDS RESOURCES AND EDUCATION OR GO-CARE.

IT PROVIDES PRIMARY AND SPECIALTY CARE TO ADULTS LIVING WITH H.I.V./AIDS IN 12 PARISHES IN NORTHEAST LOUISIANA.

JAMAR ENNIS IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LOUISIANA YOUTH FOR EXCELLENCE OR LIFE.

IT'S WITHIN THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR.

IT IS A STATEWIDE POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT TEACHES, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE CONSEQUENCES OF AT RISK BEHAVIORS.

LIFE PROVIDES ABSTINENCE CENTRIC RESOURCES TO SCHOOLS AND FAITH AND COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS.

DR.

LOREN RICHIE IS A MEMBER OF THE FACULTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNAL MEDICINE AT THE L.S.U.

HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER IN NEW ORLEANS.

BOARD CERTIFIED IN INTERNAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES.

DR.

RICHIE'S RESEARCH FOCUSES ON FACTORS AFFECTING LEAKAGE AND RETENTION AND CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH H.I.V.

AND EUGENE COLLINS IS THE DIRECTOR OF PREVENTION AT THE H.I.V./AIDS ALLIANCE FOR REGION TWO IN THE BATON ROUGE AREA OR HEART.

THAT'S IN THE BATON ROUGE METRO AREA.

ALSO CO-HOST OF "POSITIVE VOICES" A RADIO PROGRAM ABOUT H.I.V.

IN BATON ROUGE.

WE HAVE A RADIO PROGRAM ABOUT THAT.

I BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT, DID YOU?

BEFORE WE GO TO THE AUDIENCE QUESTIONS NOW, I WANT TO ASK EACH OF YOU TO BRIEFLY TELL US FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE HOW OPTIMISTIC ARE YOU THAT LOUISIANA'S RATES FOR H.I.V./AIDS WILL IMPROVE OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS?

I'LL BEGIN WITH YOU.

WELL, I MEAN, THAT'S A VERY LOADED QUESTION, RIGHT?

AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT THAT, YOU GOT TO THINK ABOUT THAT IN A FEW DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES BECAUSE THE FIRST THING WE KNOW, IN ORDER TO GET PEOPLE INTO TREATMENT AND GET THIS REDUCED, WE GOT TO TEST MORE PEOPLE.

WHEN YOU TEST MORE PEOPLE FOR THIS VIRUS, GUESS WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO INITIALLY FIND.

MORE OF THE VIRUS.

SO AS YOU FIND MORE OF THE VIRUS FOR THE FIRST FEW INITIAL YEARS, IT MAY SHOW ACTUAL UPTICK.

BUT AS YOU GET THOSE PEOPLE IN THE CARE, YOU GET THEM ON THE TREATMENT REGIMENS AND YOU KNOW, YOU MAKE SURE THEY STAY ENGAGED IN CARE AND YOU TALK TO THEIR PARTNERS.

AFTER A WHILE, YOU SEE A DECREASE.

INITIALLY, YOU MIGHT SEE AN UP TICK IF YOU'RE RUNNING EFFECTIVE TESTING PROGRAMS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'D LIKE TO BE OPTIMISTIC BUT I DON'T THINK WE'LL SEE THOSE BENEFITS IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.

FOR A LOT OF THE SAME REASONS THAT EUGENE SAID.

AS WE DO MORE TESTING, WE'LL FIND MORE POSITIVES.

BUT ALSO A LOT OF THE THINGS WE'RE DOING TO SORT OF LINK PEOPLE TO CARE AND RETAIN THEM IN CARE, THOSE BENEFITS ARE GOING TO TAKE SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE WE SEE CHANGES IN H.I.V.

RATES BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET PEOPLE IN CARE OR GET THEM UNDETECTIBLE.

AND THAT WILL AVERT FUTURE INFECTIONS.

MORE HOPEFUL FOR FIVE TO 10 YEARS THAN I AM FOR THREE.

BUT STILL OPTIMISTIC WE CAN DO IT IF WE PUT THE EFFORT IN.

THANK YOU.

MORE OPTIMISTIC THERE ARE CHANGES ON THE HORIZON.

THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR HAS BOLSTERED ITS POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES TO TARGET YOUTH IN SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS, COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS WITH A FEW THINGS.

WE HAVE A GRANT INITIATIVE THAT'S GOING ON TO TARGET OUR PARISHES IN RURAL AREAS AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER 64 PARISHES STATEWIDE.

WE'RE BOLSTERING OUR EFFORTS TO -- FOR SCHOOLS, BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR EDUCATORS, OUR SUPERINTENDENTS AND OUR FAITH-BASED COMMUNITIES, OUR PASTORS AND OUR COMMUNITY LEADERS IN THE CHURCH.

SO AS OUR EFFORTS INCREASE, OUR EDUCATION INITIATIVES WILL INCREASE AND OUR YOUTH WILL BE LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW H.I.V.

IS CONTRACTED AND THE OTHER S.T.I.s THAT ARE OUT THERE AS WELL AS THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNPLANNED TEEN PREGNANCY.

DR.

KENDALL.

SO I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC.

BUT I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS PARTICULARLY IN OUR RURAL AREAS IN THE STATE.

AS YOU'RE AWARE, I'M IN ONE OF THE PROVIDERS IN ONE OF OUR RURAL AREAS SO I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF UNDIAGNOSED H.I.V.

IN THOSE AREAS.

SO WHILE WE'LL HAVE A LOT OF EFFORTS TOWARDS THE LARGER METROPOLITAN AREAS, I STILL THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A GAP AND THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME CONCERN THERE.

SO MOVING FORWARD, WHILE I HOPE AND I AM VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT US GETTING CONTROL OF THIS, I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR RURAL AREAS.

OBVIOUSLY, THESE DISEASES AFFECT A WIDE RANGE OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE OF LOUISIANA AND THAT'S WHY I AM VERY FIRM IN MY BELIEF THAT ALL SCHOOLS IN THE STATE THAT RECEIVE TAXPAYER ALLOCATIONS SHOULD BE TEACHING SEXUAL EDUCATION.

AND A LOT OF PARENTS ARE CONCERNED THAT -- THAT -- THAT PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING THE ADEQUATE KNOWLEDGE THAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE RECEIVING AND THAT THEY'RE ONLY HEARING THAT JUST ABSTINENCE BASED RESULTS.

AND SO I'M OF THE BELIEF THAT TEACHERS SHOULD BE -- THEY SHOULD BE PUSHING MORE JUST GENERAL EDUCATION THAT SHOULD BE OUT THERE IN THE PUBLIC LIKE HOW TO PUT ON A CONDOM.

WHERE TO BUY A CONDOM.

SOME OF THE GENERAL STUFF THAT GOES ALONG WITH SEX IN GENERAL.

AND SO MY QUESTION GOES TO SHOULD SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALLOW PARENTS TO SERVE AS A HECKLER VETO OF SORTS.

FIRST OFF, I'LL TELL YOU, JOSEPH, I LOVE THAT TERM HECKLESS -- HECKLER'S VETO.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO USE THAT.

I AGREE WITH YOU.

WHEN WE LOOK AT COMPREHENSIVE SEX ED, RIGHT, WE KNOW THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE PAT SMITH TRIED HER HARDEST TO PUSH COMPREHENSIVE SEX ED FOR A VERY LONG TIME WITH VERY LITTLE TRACTION.

WE THINK ABOUT OUR YOUTH, YOU KNOW, WE GOT TO THINK REALISTICALLY, RIGHT?

WE KNOW THAT EVERYBODY IS NOT GOING TO ABSTAIN.

AND THERE'S SO MANY CHALLENGES OUT THERE TODAY THAT Y'ALL FACE THAT, YOU KNOW, MY GENERATION DIDN'T FACE OR OTHERS DIDN'T FACE THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A MUCH MORE DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ENVIRONMENT FOR YOU ALL.

BUT IT ALMOST SEEMS AS THOUGH YOU'RE GETTING LESS INFORMATION, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GETTING JUST ONE KIND OF INFORMATION.

I THINK ABOUT THIS IN THESE TIMES, WHEN I GET UP IN THE MORNING, I LIVE IN SOUTH LOUISIANA, I'M GOING TO MAKE MY UMBRELLA IS IN THE CAR.

IN CASE IT RAINS.

CONDOMS ARE THE SAME WAY.

IF YOU DECIDE TO HAVE SEX, I WANT THEM TO HAVE THEM WITH YOU.

WE HAVE TO OPEN UP THIS CONVERSATION AND BE REAL ABOUT IT.

JUST HAVE A REALISTIC CONVERSATION AND START TO, YOU KNOW, IMPLEMENT THESE CHANGES AT SCHOOLS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE DON'T WANT TO SAY EVEN THOUGH THERE'S A STATEWIDE LAW THAT MANDATES ABSTINENCE BASED PROGRAMS, EACH DISTRICT HAS THE ABILITY TO DO ITS OWN THING AND WE NEED TO EDUCATE OURSELVES MORE ON THAT AND START TO PUSH THESE THINGS THROUGH THAT AND INCREASE THE HECKLERS ON BOTH SIDES.

YOU ARE IN THE SCHOOLS WITH YOUR PROGRAM.

YOU ARE REACHING OUT AND SPEAKING.

ABSOLUTELY.

I'M VERY GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT QUESTION UP AND THIS IS A GREAT CONCERN OF THE GOVERNOR TO EDUCATE OUR YOUTH IN WAYS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN DONE BEFORE.

SO WE HAVE A NEW CURRICULUM THAT'S NOT ONLY ENGAGING BUT IS FUN FOR OUR YOUTH TO PARTICIPATE IN.

AND THEY'RE NOT LOOKED AT AS STUDENTS BUT MORE PARTICIPANTS SO THEY'RE ENGAGED IN MATERIAL AND THEY LEARN ABOUT THE HEALTHY CHOICES.

THEY LEARN ABOUT GOAL SETTING, DECISION MAKING, AND HOW TO BECOME A BETTER LEADER.

SO OUR MATERIAL IS NEW.

IT'S UP TO DATE.

AND THAT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BEST MATERIALS ARE IN THE HANDS OF OUR STUDENTS, EDUCATORS AND OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS.

SO WE SIT DOWN WITH ALL OF OUR SUPERINTENDENTS AND GET APPROVAL.

WE SHOW THEM WHAT THE CURRICULUM IS ABOUT.

IT'S NOT ABOUT POPPING IN A TAPE WITH US.

WE SIT DOWN.

WE TRAIN OUR TEACHERS, OUR EDUCATORS AND WE DO IT WITH FIDELITY SO THAT THEY'RE QUALIFIED AND THAT THEY HAVE THE MATERIAL TO ANSWER ALL THE TOUGH QUESTIONS BECAUSE OUR TEACHERS ARE THERE FOR A REASON.

WE BELIEVE THAT OUR TEACHERS ARE STILL RELIED UPON FOR STUDENTS TO USE FOR GUIDANCE WHEN THEY HAVE QUESTIONS.

SO WE WANT TO PREPARE THEM TO HANDLE THOSE TOUGH QUESTIONS AND UNDERSTAND THE ELEMENTS OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNPLANNED TEEN PREGNANCY AND THE OTHER I KNOW PROVIDERS WHO, YOU KNOW, CARE FOR PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE BUT, YOU KNOW, IN WHERE I'M LOCATED AND PARTICULARLY NORTHEAST LOUISIANA, I HAVE SEVERAL CASES THAT ARE LIKE THAT.

AND IT'S HEARTBREAKING BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT ALMOST SEEMS AS THOUGH IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT'S NOT REALLY SEEN SO IT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF MIND.

WHAT WE REALLY, REALLY TRULY NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.

I'M A BIG ADVOCATE FOR PREP.

I'M A PREP PROVIDER.

AND I HAVE QUITE A FEW INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ON PREP RIGHT NOW.

NOT A LOT OF ADOLESCENTS BECAUSE THERE'S STILL THAT ISSUE WITH THEM GETTING PERMISSION OR NEEDING PERMISSION OR NOT WANTING ON COME BECAUSE THEY'RE AFRAID OR WORRIED ABOUT WHAT THEIR PARENTS MAY SAY OR SOMETHING SHOWING UP ON THEIR PARENTS' INSURANCE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S AN ISSUE THAT'S A BARRIER AS WELL.

BUT I THINK THAT AS WE MOVE FORWARD, WITH REGARD TO EDUCATION, THEN CERTAINLY, PREEXPOSURE AS WELL AS POST EXPOSURE TRULY NEEDS TO BE A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.

I'M SORRY.

JUST WANTED TO MAKE MENTION OF, YOU KNOW, AT THE HEALTH CARE CLINIC, WE'VE TAKEN AN ADVANTAGE ROLE TO EDUCATE YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT PREP.

WE HAD A YOUTH SUMMIT A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK WHERE WE HAD ABOUT 800 YOUNG PEOPLE AND WE EDUCATED THEM ON PREP THE WHOLE TIME AND EDUCATED ME ON WHAT PREP -- EXCUSE ME, WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE.

AND THEN WE FOLLOWED THAT UP AND DID AN EFFORT WITH MITCHELL AND HE PUT TOGETHER A VIDEO JUST ADDRESSING PREP AND PEP.

WE SAW AN INCREASE OF PEOPLE COMING IN FOR PREP AND PEP WITH THE RAP VIDEO.

LOOKING AT OUT OF THE BOX EFFORTS THAT WE DON'T COMMONLY USE IN THIS PRACTICE.

PREP WAS AN H.I.V.

DRUG SINCE 2004.

AND THEN IN 2012, IT WAS DISCOVERED, HEY, THIS IS A PREVENTATIVE AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE.

DOCTOR, WHAT INSURANCES COVER IT?

WHAT ARE YOU FINDING IN NEW ORLEANS WITH PREP?

WELL, THAT'S ALWAYS THE CHALLENGE.

IT DEPENDS ON THE PERSON'S INSURANCE WHETHER OR NOT YOU CAN GET PREP ALTHOUGH THERE ARE AVENUES NOW TO GET PREP FOR UNINSURED PATIENTS IN NEW ORLEANS.

THERE'S A LOT OF ADVERTISING IN NEW ORLEANS RIGHT NOW, JUST SAW IT ON A BUS THAT DROVE BY TODAY WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK.

BUT REALLY, WHAT I THINK FOR PREP TO BE MORE MAINSTREAM AND TO GET TO THE YOUTH, I THINK PREP NEEDS TO BE IN PRIMARY CARE.

SO YOUTH ARE SEEING THE FAMILY DOCTORS, THEIR PEDIATRICIANS, MOST OF THEM DON'T THINK TO COME TO AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE CLINIC.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T ACTUALLY THINK THEY'RE AT RISK EVEN WHEN THEY ARE.

SO I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE KNOWLEDGE IN PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS.

AND THE OPTION FOR YOUTH TO GET THOSE MEDICATIONS CLOSER TO HOME WITH SOMEBODY THEY ALREADY KNOW AND TRUST.

AS A NURSE IN WORKING IN PUBLIC HEALTH, I FIND WE DO ENCOUNTER SOME PATIENTS THAT HAVE SOME VERY OUTDATED IDEAS AND INFORMATION STILL REGARDING H.I.V.

AND AIDS.

I WAS JUST CURIOUS AS TO WHAT YOU GUYS ARE STILL FINDING ARE THE MOST PREVALENT MISCONCEPTIONS OF TRANSMISSION AND TREATMENT.

SO YOU WOULD THINK THAT IN 2017, THAT WE WOULD HAVE A PRETTY GOOD GRASP ON H.I.V.

TRANSMISSION BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

WE'RE SEEING SITUATIONS WHERE PEOPLE STILL BELIEVE THAT, YOU KNOW, H.I.V.

IS TRANSMITTED JUST BY TOUCHING AND KISSING AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.

I HAD A RECENT SCENARIO WHERE A YOUNG MAN WHO WAS DIAGNOSED IS FAMILY MEMBERS THROUGH ALL THESE THINGS AND OUT OF THE HOUSE, BECAUSE THEY WERE WORRIED HE WAS GOING TO INFECT THEM IN SOME WAY.

I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE, IT'S REALLY UNFORTUNATE THAT THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF MISINFORMATION THAT'S OUT THERE AND CERTAINLY THE INTERNET IS NOT HELPING THAT BECAUSE THERE'S STILL A LOT OF DATA AND STUFF THAT'S ON THERE AS WELL.

SO THEY GO TO THE, YOU KNOW, ON-LINE AND THEY LOOK UP ALL THIS INFORMATION AND I ALWAYS SHARE WITH THEM, ESPECIALLY THE ONES THAT ARE NEWLY DIAGNOSED TO JUST BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHERE YOU GO AND WHAT INFORMATION YOU'RE READING BECAUSE THE INFORMATION WILL MAKE YOU BELIEVE YOU'LL BE DEAD TOMORROW, YOU KNOW.

BUT THERE DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE AN EMPHASIS BECAUSE I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME EDUCATING AND REASSURING THEM WHEN WE FIRST START ON THAT JOURNEY TOWARDS VIRUS SUPPRESSION.

I WANT TO GO TO JACQUELINE.

WE'LL GET TO YOU JUST IN A SECOND.

JACQUELINE, YOU HAD A QUESTION.

I DID.

IT'S VERY OBVIOUS THERE'S MORE OF A PROBLEM IN THE DEEP SOUTH AND IN RURAL COMMUNITIES.

SO I'M WONDERING WHY HAS THE C.D.C.

CUT FUNDING BY AT LEAST 20% FOR THESE SOUTHERN STATES PER PERSON LIVING WITH THE DISEASES.

KNOWING THAT THERE IS, YOU KNOW, THE WIDESPREAD NEED FOR RESOURCES AND FOR TREATMENT IN THE DEEP SOUTH.

I CAN'T EXPLAIN WHAT THE C.D.C.

IS DOING.

BUT I MEAN, THEIR DATA CERTAINLY SHOWS THAT THE EPIDEMIC IS CENTERED IN THE SOUTH IN THE DEEP SOUTH IN PARTICULAR.

FUELED BY A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS.

BUT WE NEED ALL THE MONEY WE CAN GET RIGHT NOW AND ALL THE RESOURCES THAT WE CAN.

IN RESPONSE TO THE OTHER QUESTION THAT WAS JUST ASKED, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE MISCONCEPTIONS STILL ARE THAT H.I.V.

IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO DIE FROM.

EVERYBODY THAT'S NEWLY DIAGNOSED TELLS ME THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY'LL DROP OUT OF COLLEGE AND THEY'LL THINK THEIR LIFE IS OVER.

WHEN I TRY TO EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT THEY'RE GOING TO LIVE JUST AS LONG AS EVERYBODY ELSE IF THEY TAKE THEIR MEDICINE, IT'S LIKE OH, A LIGHT BULB GOES OFF.

IT'S A TOTAL TRANSFORMATION.

ALSO, THERE'S STILL THIS MISCONCEPTION ABOUT THE MEDICINES THAT THEY'RE HORRIBLE AND HAVE A LOT OF SIDE EFFECTS.

WHICH HAS CHANGED A LOT.

YEAH.

SO I THINK THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT I'M SORRY I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THE C.D.C.

QUESTIONS.

ANYONE ELSE?

WHAT WE'RE FINDING IS THAT THE EDUCATION.

AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS SEEM TO BE LACKING.

THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OF THEM BUT THEY SEEM TO BE LACKING.

I WANT TO ASK BOTH THE DOCTORS HERE, WHAT WOULD THE PERFECT COMMERCIAL LOOK LIKE IF YOU HAD A COMMERCIAL THAT WOULD TEACH THE TRUTH ABOUT H.I.V.?

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I WOULD FIRST START OFF AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGING THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT A DEATH SENTENCE.

AND TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT SOME SORT OF MESSAGE IN THAT COMMERCIAL -- THAT REDUCES THE STIGMA.

STIGMA, I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT STIGMA IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE'RE STILL SEEING SO MANY PEOPLE DYING.

I MEAN, THERE'S PROBABLY SOMEONE RIGHT NOW WHO IS JUST LAYING ON THE COUCH JUST WASTING AWAY AND THEY'RE SO AFRAID OR EMBARRASSED TO COME INTO CARE BECAUSE THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY.

THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS AND SO THOSE ARE THE TWO THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

AND IN THE COMMERCIAL, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THOSE DAYS ARE OVER.

YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF PEOPLE DYING AND ALL OF THAT STUFF.

THOSE THINGS ARE OVER.

AND CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, JUST, YOU KNOW, REALIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN LIVE, YOU CAN BE VERY HEALTHY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NEW PUSH RIGHT NOW WITH THE SCIENCE THAT'S SHOWING THAT UNDETECTIBLE EQUALS UNTRANSMITTABLE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE JUST NEED TO BE AWARE, THEY WILL BE HEALTHY.

THEY WILL STAY VIRALLY SUPPRESSED AND WON'T BE TRANSMITTING AND CAUSING NEW CASES.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU WROTE A VERY WELL THOUGHT OUT QUESTION AND I'M SURE YOU HAVE SEVERAL QUESTIONS.

WHY DON'T YOU ASK THE PANELISTS THE QUESTION?

DEFINITELY.

UNDENIABLE THAT THE RATES OF H.I.V.

AND AIDS ARE HIGH IN THE LOW INCOME RURAL AREAS OF THE STATES.

BUT I'M CURIOUS IF AFTER SCHOOL MENTORING PROGRAMS HAVE SOME KIND OF IMPACT ON THAT?

OUR GOAL IS TO MAINLY EDUCATE AND TO HELP OUR YOUTH MAKE BETTER DECISIONS SO I'M KIND OF CURIOUS IF THERE'S ANY RESEARCH THAT'S BEEN DONE ON HOW THAT'S IMPACTED ALL THE YOUTH.

AND -- WE BELIEVE AS AN ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THAT YOUTH MENTORSHIP PROGRAMS AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS, ADULT SUPERVISED PROGRAMS ARE VERY EFFECTIVE.

IN HELPING OUR YOUTH PROVIDE -- PROVIDE THEM GUIDANCE TO MAKE THEM MORE RESPONSIBLE AND HELP THEM MAKE BETTER DECISIONS REGARDING THEIR HEALTH.

SO THEREFORE, WE HAVE INVESTED A LOT OF OUR ENERGY, A LOT OF OUR RESOURCES TO THOSE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.

SUCH AS YOURS, TO PROVIDE EXTRA -- AN EXTRA HAND ESPECIALLY IN THE RURAL PARISHES THAT DON'T NECESSARILY GET THOSE FUNDS TO DO THINGS WITH THE YOUTH.

AND ONLY TO -- THE ONLY SUPPLEMENT THAT WAS THE BEST AND THE MOST ACCURATE INFORMATION THAT'S MEDICALLY ACCURATE THAT'S TOTALLY INCLUSIVE AND THAT'S AGE APPROPRIATE AND THAT'S GENERALLY RESTRICTIVE OF ANY KIND OF BIASES THAT MAY PREVENT ANY -- ANY CHILD LEFT OUT FROM RECEIVING THE PROPER EDUCATION.

SO WE LOVE THE MENTORSHIP AND WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THOSE TYPE OF PROGRAMS AND ISSUES MOVING FORWARD.

I WANT TO SAY THAT WE HAD THE IDEA OF P.S.A.s.

I JUST WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT PROBABLY WON'T HELP THE YOUTH VERY MUCH BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO SEE EITHER AN AD ON TWITTER THAT'S GOING TO SCROLL PAST THEM AND THEY'RE GOING TO SEE A COMMERCIAL ABOUT IT AND THEY'RE GOING TO TUNE OUT.

AND SO I THINK IT'S GOT TO GO BACK TO LIKE YOU SAID, INTO A SMALL CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT WHERE THERE ARE FRANK AND OPEN DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SEXUAL EDUCATION AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE -- ABSOLUTELY, JOSEPH.

AND OUR -- WE TRAIN OUR TEACHERS, EDUCATORS TO CREATE A JUDGE-FREE ZONE.

JUDGMENT FREE ZONE.

SO OUR YOUTH ABLE TO EXPRESS, ARTICULATE THEIR CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS THAT THEY MAY HAVE.

IN A JUDGMENT FREE ZONE.

SO THAT THEY CAN ADEQUATELY GET THEIR CONCERNS ADDRESSED, ANY QUESTIONS THAT THEY MAY HAVE AND THE WAY THAT IS INTELLIGENT AND RESPONSIBLE AND EDUCATED.

SO THIS BOLSTERS OUR STANDING WITH OUR TEACHERS TO PROVIDE THE CORRECT INFORMATION BUT ALSO, THE STUDENTS AND THE YOUTH ARE RECEIVING WHAT THEY NEED TO RECEIVE IN TERMS TO MAKE THEIR PURSUIT TO BE MORE REASONED ADULTS.

ANY PLACE YOU NEED TO GO TO REACH SOMEBODY, NO MATTER WHERE THAT IS, YOU DO THAT.

AND THAT'S TAKING RESPONSIBILITY ALL OF US WHICH YOU ADDRESSED THIS A LITTLE WHILE AGO.

KIM, YOU HAVE A QUESTION?

FOR THE PANELIST?

MY ORIGINAL QUESTION WAS ABOUT THE FUNDING.

IF THE C.D.C.

IS GOING TO CUT FUNDING IN THE DEEP SOUTH WHERE THE EPIDEMIC RESIDES NOW, WHAT CAN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA DO?

WE HAVE NO LINE ITEM IN OUR BUDGET FOR H.I.V., WE NEVER HAVE.

ALL THE DOLLARS THAT ARE BEING SPENT BY THE MOST WONDERFUL HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE HAVE SUCH COMMITMENT FROM DR.

GRUBER AND SUCH COMMITMENT FROM OUR PARTNERS AT THE STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL.

THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING IS NOT FOLLOWING THE EPIDEMIC.

WHAT CAN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA DO WHETHER IT'S A LINE ITEM IN THE BUDGET?

WE KNOW THAT INTERVENTIONS WORK.

WE CAN LOOK AT EVIDENCE BASED INTERVENTIONS.

WE KNOW WHAT WE NEED TO DO HOW DO WE GET THE MONEY TO FOLLOW THE WORK?

YOU KNOW, FOR YEARS, THE STATE WOULD HAVE A $2.5 MILLION MATCH TO SUPPLEMENT THE PREVENTION MONEY THEY GOT FROM THE C.D.C.

AND WE SAW IN THE GENERAL ADMINISTRATION THAT $2.5 MILLION MATCH WENT AWAY AND THE STATE, I DON'T MEAN THE STATE, YOU KNOW, THE PROGRAMS, THE PROGRAMATIC SIDE OF IT BUT OUR LEGISLATORS HAVE TO MAKE A REAL CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO PUTTING A LINE ITEM BACK IN OUR GENERAL BUDGET TO ADDRESS H.I.V.

YOU ASKED ABOUT THE QUESTION ABOUT THE C.D.C.

FUNDS AND IT BEING CUT.

I DON'T THINK THOSE C.D.C.

FUNDS COME BACK.

SO I THINK THE STATE HAS TO JUST SPEAK IN REAL TERMS AND START TO ADDRESS THIS LOCALLY KNOWING THAT THOSE FEDERAL DOLLARS JUST WON'T EVER REAPPEAR.

THE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS THAT HELP DRIVE THE EPIDEMIC ARE UNDERFUNDED.

EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE, ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE ALSO NOT BEING MET IN THE STATE GENERAL FUND, THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO PAY A LOT OF ATTENTION TO.

I'M CURIOUS WHETHER -- I KNOW IT'S A DIFFICULT TIME IN THE STATE FROM A BUDGET PERSPECTIVE.

I CAN TELL YOU OUR GOVERNOR HAS DONE HIS PART AND SINCE HE'S BEEN ELECTED, HE HAS TAKEN A PRIORITY TO MAKE SURE THAT THE EXPANSION OF MEDICAID HAS BEEN ROLLED OUT, PRIORITY NUMBER ONE.

SO THAT INCREASES RESOURCES FOR EVERYONE.

FOR EDUCATION, AND TO GET -- BRING MORE AWARENESS SO THAT INDIVIDUALS GET WHAT THEY NEED.

SO I CAN'T ARTICULATE WHY THE C.D.C.

HAS CUT THOSE FUNDS BUT I CAN TELL YOU HOW OUR ADMINISTRATION IS LISTENING AND WE'RE WELL AWARE OF THOSE CONCERNS.

SO AS EUGENE SAID, IT DOES FALL A LOT ON THE LEGISLATORS TO HEAR SO WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO MEET WITH THEM.

SHARE THE IDEAS THAT EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT.

AND CREATE ALL AWARENESS FOR NOT ONLY FOR YOUTH BUT FOR EVERYONE, THE PARENTS, THE CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, AND OUR COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.

I WOULD BE A LITTLE WORRIED ABOUT THE LINE ITEM LEGISLATION BECAUSE THERE'S A LARGE MOVEMENT IN THE LEGISLATURE THAT'S GROWING TO TRY TO GET THAT OUT OF THE CONSTITUTION AND SO I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD NECESSARILY BE THE ANSWER.

BUT I THINK IT WOULD JUST BE A SIMPLE SENTENCE IN A BILL THAT WOULD TRY TO GET SCHOOL BOARDS AT LEAST FOR YOUTH TRY TO GET SCHOOL BOARDS TO MANDATE SEXUAL EDUCATION.

EVEN WITH SCHOOLS, THINK ABOUT THE GRADUATION RATE THAT WE HAVE.

SO HOW MANY OF THESE KIDS ARE ACTUALLY IN SCHOOL TO LEARN THIS?

AND THEN HOW MANY OF THE KIDS ARE ACTUALLY BEING EFFECTIVELY TAUGHT WHAT THEY'RE BEING TAUGHT CURRENTLY.

SO WE HAVE TO BE MORE INNOVATIVE BECAUSE THIS IS A CRISES.

IF WE ALREADY HAVE BEST PRACTICES AT HAND AND WE WOULDN'T HAVE A CRISES.

SO WE HAVE TO GO OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOLS, EVEN OUTSIDE OF THE CHURCHES TO SOME EXTENT.

ONE OF THE MANY REASONS WHY THE SONG THAT WAS DONE, THE REASON WHY THAT SONG WORKED IS IT SPOKE A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE THAT WENT IN SCHOOLS.

IT WAS AT THE CHURCH.

IT WAS RERED -- AT THE RED LIGHT, BARBER SHOP AND EVERYWHERE.

DESTIGMATIZED FOR A MOMENT AIDS AND H.I.V.

IT MADE PEOPLE ASK WHAT'S PREP?

WHAT IS PEP?

EVEN IF WE BRING THIS INTO SCHOOLS, THINK OF HOW UNCOMFORTABLE THEY WILL BE IN THE ATMOSPHERE THAT THEY'RE BEING BULLIED ABOUT THINGS ALREADY AND TALK ABOUT H.I.V.

AND ACTUALLY SHOW INTEREST SO THIS GUY SITTING NEXT TO ME WOULD THINK THAT I'M SHOWING INTEREST FOR SOME OTHER REASON, YOU KNOW?

SO WE CAN REACH THEM BUT I BELIEVE EVEN IF WE GO INTO THE SCHOOLS, WE'RE STILL MISSING THE MARK.

BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH BROADER THAN THAT.

SO WE NEED TO BE INNOVATIVE IN WHATEVER APPROACHES THAT WE TAKE.

AND TRY THINGS THAT WE HAVEN'T TRIED BEFORE.

LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED.

WHAT ABOUT THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH?

I THINK -- I THINK THAT -- I'LL ASK YOU FOR A SECOND.

WHAT I WANT TO DEAL WITH THE CHURCH OR ANYTHING.

WHAT I THINK I HEAR HAPPENING IS WE BEGIN BETWEEN PREVENTATIVE AND DEALING WITH THE INITIAL PHASE OF BEING DIAGNOSED WITH IT AND CURE FOR IT.

TO SOME DEGREE, WE HAVE TO FIT ALL THOSE INTO THE PICTURE.

TO THE DEGREE WE BEGAN, SOMEONE TALKED ABOUT IT.

TO THE DEGREE WE GET TO TALK ABOUT IT AND MOVING IT AGAIN AS A COMPREHENSIVE WAY IN AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM THAT CAN BE DONE IN THE SCHOOL, I THINK IT WOULD BE RELEVANT.

TO THE CHURCH, I THINK THAT GOES BACK TO YOUR ISSUE.

HOW DO WE BEGIN TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS NOT STIGMATIZED AND THAT THE CHURCH NOW APPRECIATES IT'S BEEN ONE OF THEIR PARISHIONERS AND IT CAN HIT ANY ONE OF THEIR PARISHIONERS NOT IN ISOLATED OR PARTICULAR SECTOR OF THE CHURCH COMMUNITY.

ALSO, I THINK THAT AWARENESS PROGRAM HAS TO WORK OUT.

SO IT BECOMES ACCEPTABLE TO THE CHURCH COMMUNITY, IT BECOMES ACCEPTABLE IN THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY.

AND THAT WE CAN ALSO TALK ABOUT IT IN THE HOME.

THE OTHER THING VERY QUICKLY BACK TO YOU IS THAT CHILDREN AND YOUNG FOLKS AS I TALK TO THEM AND WORK WITH THEM OFTEN HAVE -- THEY STILL GETTING THEIR SEX EDUCATION.

HE'S TELLING THEM STUFF LIKE THAT.

30 OR 40 YEARS, AND SO WE'VE GOT TO RECOGNIZE THAT.

THIS AWARENESS IS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IS MAYBE AS OLD FOGEY AS ANYTHING OUT THERE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

WHAT I'M HEARING IS THIS STIGMA, OF COURSE, REMAINS AND H.I.V.

IS WHISPERED LIKE YOU WOULD SAY SHE HAS CANCER.

WHEN YOU TELL SOMEBODY.

SO IT'S, YOU KNOW, THERE'S AN EDGE OF UNCOMFORTABILITY ABOUT IT.

THAT MUST BE FRUSTRATING WITH THE FUNDING AND YOU SEE THE PATIENTS AND SOMETIMES YOU'RE IN A CATCH 22.

WE'RE STRUGGLING TO PROVIDE THE BEST CARE THAT WE CAN.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT IN ORDER TO REALLY CURB THE EPIDEMIC, WE NEED TO DIAGNOSE EVERYBODY AND GET EVERYBODY IN CARE.

AND TO THE POINT, OBVIOUSLY I'M NOT A SCHOOLTEACHER.

BUT I FEEL LIKE WHEN WE FOCUS OF SEXUAL EDUCATION ON ABSTINENCE, WE'RE MISSING A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO TEACH OUR KIDS THE IMPORTANT THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW.

WE TEACH OUR KIDS HOW TO EXERCISE SO THEY DON'T GET HEART DISEASE WHEN THEY'RE 50.

BUT WE EXPECT THEM TO BE ABSTINENT OVER A LIFETIME?

EXTREMELY UNLIKELY.

SO KIDS NEED TO KNOW THE BASICS OF REPRODUCTION AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COME TO CLINIC WITH DIAGNOSES, THEY HAD NO IDEA THAT THEY WERE AT RISK FOR.

AND I WOULD RATHER SOMEONE BE EDUCATED AND MAKE A DECISION THAT HAS MAYBE A BAD OUTCOME VS.

JUST DO SOMETHING AND END UP WITH THAT OUTCOME WITHOUT HAVING ANY CHOICE ABOUT IT.

LET'S GO TO ANOTHER QUESTION FOR YOU.

COMMENT IN REFERENCE TO STIGMA.

WHAT I FIND VERY INTERESTING IS THAT PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH H.I.V.

AND AIDS, WHETHER IF YOU'RE DOING PREVENTION OR EDUCATION, THE COMMUNITY SORT OF STIGMATIZE YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND I JUST FIND IT SO INTERESTING THAT PEOPLE WILL ACTUALLY ASSUME AUTOMATICALLY THAT I'M H.I.V.

POSITIVE BECAUSE I'M SO COMMITTED TO THIS WORK.

AND SO I'VE HAD PEOPLE JUST SAY, WELL, WHEN WERE YOU DIAGNOSED WITH H.I.V.?

AND JUST -- BECAUSE I'M INVOLVED AND I CARE.

SO I THINK THAT WHEN WE HAVE MORE PEOPLE TO BECOME INVOLVED THAT ARE NOT H.I.V.

POSITIVE, THAT IS GOING TO REDUCE THE STIGMA.

DR.

KENDALL, I WANT TO ASK YOU.

YOU'RE IN AN INTERESTING POSITION BECAUSE, OF COURSE, THE LARGER CITIES CONTINUE TO LEAD THE NATION PER CAPITA.

BUT THERE'S A DECREASING THE NUMBER OF CASES.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE IN THE RURAL AREAS WHERE EVERYTHING IS INCREASING.

THAT IS TRUE.

SO IT'S REALLY INTERESTING.

I'VE BEEN AT MY CLINIC NOW ABOUT TWO YEARS.

SO WE HAVE GROWN BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS.

IT'S A GOOD THING AND A BAD THING.

YOU GO TO 12 PARISHES.

CORRECT.

IT'S A GOOD THING IN THAT PEOPLE HAVE A PLACE THEY CAN COME IF THEY'RE NEWLY DIAGNOSED OR TREATMENT EXPERIENCE, THEY NEED A PLACE TO COME, THEY CAN COME.

IT'S ALSO BAD IN THAT LIKE, WOW, GETTING ALL THESE NEW DIAGNOSES AND WE GET NEW REFERRALS EVERY DAY, HONESTLY, WE DO.

AND IN SOME KIND OF WAY, WE DO TESTING DAILY DURING OUR REGULAR OFFICE HOURS SO WE MAY HAVE SOMEONE WHO WALKS IN AND THEY TEST POSITIVE ON THAT DAY.

BUT IT'S AWESOME IN THAT THEY'RE DIRECTLY LINKED RIGHT THERE AT THAT TIME TO CARE.

SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT.

I CAN'T SHARE ENOUGH HOW GRATEFUL I AM TO BE IN A STATE WHERE MEDICAID HAS BEEN EXPANDED BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO CARE, YOU KNOW, WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE WITH OUR STAFF THAT WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO -- THAT'S WHAT SHE DOES IS THAT SHE HAS TO NAVIGATE THAT PROCESS FOR THEM SO THEY CAN GET COVERAGE AND THEY CAN GET THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED.

SO THAT THEY CAN AFFORD THERAPY AND THEY CAN BECOME VIRALLY SUPPRESSED.

I AM VERY AFRAID OF WHAT MAY HAPPEN PARTICULARLY BECAUSE I'M IN THE RURAL AREA THAT IF FOR SOME REASON, WE DON'T HAVE MEDICAID ANYMORE OR FOR SOME REASON, SOME POLITICAL AGENDA, YOU KNOW, MAKES THAT BE A BARRIER.

WHAT'S GOING TO REALLY HAPPEN?

SO WHILE I WANT TO BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE THREE YEAR THING AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET SOME GROUND MOVING, IF WE LOSE WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE, WE'RE GOING TO BE IN BIG TROUBLE.

WE HAVE JUST MOMENTS HERE.

I WANT TO GET CLOSING COMMENTS FROM EVERYBODY.

WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB.

THOSE FUNDS ARE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE AND WE COMPETE AGAINST MAJOR CITIES LIKE NEW ORLEANS.

NEW ORLEANS HAS SEVERAL DIRECT FUNDED C.D.C.

PREVENTION PROGRAMS, BATON ROUGE HAS ZERO.

AND THEN H.I.V.

IS HIGHLY PREVENTABLE.

IT'S NOT LIKE CANCER OR DISEASE WHERE IT TAKES A LONG TIME.

IT'S VERY SPECIFIC.

IT'S THROUGH YOUR OWN BEHAVIOR.

AND IF YOU'RE MAKING BAD CHOICES, THEN YOU SHOULD BE ON PREP.

ONE PILL ONCE A DAY WILL PREVENT H.I.V.

INFECTION, PROTECT YOURSELF.

PRETTY SIMPLE.

SOME CLOSING COMMENTS NOW.

THE DOCTOR MENTIONED IT EARLIER WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT WE ARE STILL EDUCATING FROM THE WRONG POINT.

FROM THE OLD UNCLE AS HE CALLED IT.

BUT I'M GOING TO TAKE IT A STEP FARTHER.

WE STILL ARE HAVING THE BIRDS AND BEES CONVERSATION WITH KIDS WHEN WE KNOW FOR A FACT WE'RE DEALING WITH RATS AND ROACHES.

WE GOT TO KEEP REAL.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

WE GOT TO THROW ALL THE CRAP OUT THE WINDOW AND SAY, THIS IS WHAT IT IS.

AND WE USE THAT TERM REGULAR PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WE -- THERE'S SMITH AND DAVIS IS TEACHING A LOT ABOUT MY LANGUAGE.

WHEN IT COMES TO STIGMATIZING LANGUAGE, WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL HOW WE USE IT.

AND THAT TERM, I DO IT, TOO.

REGULAR PEOPLE.

WHAT IS REGULAR?

LIKE THAT'S DEFINED ACROSS THE BOARD.

DOESN'T MATTER WHO IS LEADING THE MOVEMENT.

IT NEEDS TO BE NORMAL.

AND HAVING THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE RATS AND THE ROACHES AT THE KITCHEN TABLE WITH YOUR KIDS NORMALIZES H.I.V.

WE NEED TO GET IT BACK GOING.

FINAL THOUGHTS?

JUST LIKE TO TELL EVERYONE OUT THERE THAT DOESN'T KNOW THEIR STATUS THAT THEY SHOULD GET A TEST AND THERE'S SOME INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE ABOUT WHERE TO GET IT TESTED.

AS WELL AS ANYBODY OUT THERE THAT KNOWS THEY HAVE H.I.V.

AND IS NOT IN CARE, ENCOURAGE YOU TO COME IN AND GET ON THERAPY.

AND BRIEF FINAL THOUGHTS?

OK.

WE AS A COMMUNITY NEED TO JUST COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER BECAUSE WE'RE ALL TRYING TO REACH THE SAME GOAL.

AND THAT'S TO LOWER THE RATES OF H.I.V.

IN OUR STATE.

OUR DEPARTMENT FOCUSES ON YOUTH AGE 12 THROUGH 19.

WE HAVE SOME INTERESTING GRANTS THAT ARE GOING ON RIGHT NOW WITH THE -- WE HAVE A REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS ON OUR WEBSITE.

YOU CAN VISIT US AT GOV.LOUISIANA.GOV AND CLICK ON THE LIFE TAB.

AND WE HAVE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT FOR ABSTINENCE CENTRIC EDUCATION AND WE TALK ABOUT ABSTINENCE AND WE DEFINE IT AS THE REFRAINING FROM DOING ANYTHING THAT WILL IMPAIR A DECISION OR SOMETHING THAT WILL CAUSE AN UNINTENDED OR UNWANTED OUTCOME.

I BELIEVE THAT WHAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN OUR ARSENAL THAT WE CAN TRULY CONTROL H.I.V.

I BELIEVE WITH POST EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXSIS ON THIS END, KEEPING PEOPLE FROM GETTING IT IN THE FIRST PLACE, WE HAVE THE SCIENCE THAT SHOWS THAT IT WORKS.

WE HAVE THE TOOLS.

WE HAVE THE RESOURCES.

WE JUST NEED TO GET IT TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE.

SO THAT WE CAN PREVENT H.I.V.

INFECTIONS.

AND THEN ON THIS ARM WITH TREATMENT AS PREVENTION, WE DO A REALLY GOOD JOB WITH BIOSUPPRESSION.

WE HAVE TO GET EVERYBODY IDENTIFIED AND ON THERAPY SO THEY CAN BE UNDETECTIBLE AND NOT CAUSE ANY NEW CASES.

BUT ULTIMATELY, WE TALK ABOUT PREVENTION BECAUSE TREATMENT, WE CAN DO THAT.

BUT PREVENTION WE'VE GOT TO GET THE PRIMARY CARE PROVIDERS TO PRESCRIBE PREP AND PEP.

THEY HAVE GOT TO DO THIS.

STIGMA KEEPS PEOPLE FROM COMING TO THE PLACES TO GET PREP AND PEP.

THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO COME TO THE H.I.V.

CLINIC TO GET THIS STUFF.

THEY REALLY NEED TO BE ABLE TO GO TO THEIR PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER, THEIR P.A., THEIR NURSE PRACTITIONER, WHOEVER IT IS THAT THEY'RE SEEING.

I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE PRIMARY CARE, PLEASE DO THIS.

PLEASE.

CAN MAKE PEOPLE SICK.

YES.

LIKEN YOU TO A SAINT THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING, BY THE WAY, ALL OF YOU.

WE WANT TO THANK OUR PANELISTS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

DR.

KENDALL, MR.

ENNIS, DR.

RICHIE, MR.

COLLINS FOR THEIR INSIGHT ON THIS MONTH'S TOPIC.

WHEN WE COME BACK, WE'LL HAVE SOME CLOSING COMMENTS.

WE WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

THANK EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.

ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ABOUT H.I.V.

WHILE YOU'RE THERE, COMMENT ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

JOIN US NEXT MONTH AS "LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE" EXPLORES SOME OF THE CHALLENGERS THAT THE STATE'S HUNTERS AND ANGLERS ARE FACING.

THANKS FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.

AND GOOD EVENING.

FOR A COPY OF THIS PROGRAM, CALL 1-800-973-7246.

OR GO ON LINE TO WWW.LPB.ORG.

SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY THE FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

AND FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.