Recalling Those Lost to a Disease That Still Claims Lives
By SUZIE HARRISON
AIDS Day:
Amid damp fog and flickering candles, a circle of hands stretched in solidarity across the cobblestones of Main Beach as part of World AIDS Day on Monday.
Those present recited the names of those who have died from HIV/AIDS, a ceremony of sparse words but strong sentiment.
Many mentioned Eliseo Hernandez, a long-time community volunteer, who died recently.
"He was always here on World AIDS Day," said volunteer Sande St. John and Kim de St. Paer, the Laguna Beach Community Clinic's AIDS services testing supervisor. They pointed to an empty spot he traditionally occupied, guiding individuals through testing. "He was the love of our World AIDS Day."
While many assume the HIV crisis is over, in fact the epidemic is infecting a new demographic, heterosexuals and women. De St. Paer says conveying the message that people are still dying from the disease as well as contracting it is still paramount.
Several organizations set up booths Monday and were on hand offering information and services, including free testing by the community clinic. At least 30 people took advantage of the convenience, all testing negative, de St. Paer said. Generally, the cost for anonymous testing at the clinic, 362 Third St., is $40 for the 20-minute test and $10 for one-week test results.
Laguna Beach resident David Cooley was among the participants. "I'm here as a supporter and to remember departed friends. Testing is extremely important, essential to everyone's life."
Laguna Drug pharmacist Lord Sarino also attended the event. The pharmacy specializes in the 23 or so HIV medications on the market, an important asset given that the pharmacy serves about 250 resident clients, Sarino said. Laguna Beach again has the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS per capita in Orange County, based on county health statistics.
While new medications prolong life, the AIDS-affected population overall is not in decline. "The numbers unfortunately seem to stay the same," Sarino said.
Lake Forest-based Shanti OC, which provides an array of services to people living with HIV/AIDS, is seeing a trend spokesperson Sarah Kasman called alarming. "People are not getting tested when they think they've been infected. They're trying to ignore it until they actually have symptoms," she said.
Health practitioners urge people to test immediately. While in earlier years, tests were not immediately interpreted, now they are.
Erasing the stigma around testing is a message the city's HIV advisory committee tries to instill among high school students, who again contributed to awareness about World AIDS Day by creating posters that were distributed around town the week before, said committee chairman Scot Alan.
"For example, did you know that 91% of the people in the world with HIV/AIDS are heterosexual? Did you realize that this year in the United States, more than one third of new HIV infections were women, as were one fourth of new cases of AIDS?" de St. Paer said.
"If we do not wake up, the number of women in our country living with HIV will catch up to the statistics about women in the third world, which is 50% among African women," according to a UC Irvine study de St. Paer quoted.
"In addition, HIV is on the rise again among gay men -- and Laguna Beach has also been number one per capita in the United States for many years. While this information may be uncomfortable to know, it is critical if we are to inform and protect our very beautiful and precious community by the beach, she said.
Top to bottom: A candlelight vigil at Main Beach Monday night to remember victims of the AIDS epidemic for World AIDS Day. Rex Burnham of Huntington Beach signs up for a free HIV test from the Laguna Beach Community Clinic. UCI medical student Parham Farahat prepares to administer a free HIV test. San Juan Capistrano resident Dottie Kliman adds her uncle's name, Joe Castellano, to the temporary World AIDS Day memorial erected at Main Beach. Regan Hess, a homeless resident of Laguna Beach, holds cotton to his finger after taking a free HIV test.
