HIV And AIDS Are Still A Big Problem In The Garden State [AUDIO]

Did you know yesterday was World AIDS day?

In recent years there hasn't been a lot of focus on HIV and AIDS in the United States, but in Jersey, the virus is still a significant problem.

Joann McEniry, the Chief Operating Officer of New Jersey Aids Services, says Jersey ranks 5th in the nation when it comes to HIV cases, and "when you look at the states that come before us - Florida, Texas, New York and California - and the sheer size of those states in relation to the size of New Jersey, it becomes evident that it's a major issue…in New Jersey there are more than 35 thousand people who are living with HIV and AIDS, and a majority of those are in what's called the Morris, Sussex, Warren Essex and Union Regions."

So why aren't people paying attention to what's going on?

McEniry says HIV and IDS still presents a big problem because "most of the focus has shifted to education in the school system - and the youth did not live through the 1980's when they saw communities decimated by the virus - the sheer terror that existed beforehand - by seeing people die very quickly after onset of the virus - has diminished greatly."

She also points out just because we see clusters of HIV and AIDS in urban areas "doesn't mean if you're not in an urban area you're not at risk- anybody who engages in any type of behavior that has the potential to expose them to the virus is at risk…you know people like to build barriers between themselves - and not in my back yard, not in my school- not in this town or that town - but it's not true."

McEniry adds many folks are living longer with the advent of new medications, "however not everybody is responsive to medication as well, and unfortunately there is not a regime that works well for everybody - so people are still dying of AIDS…how do you know if you might have the HIV virus? If you engage in any kind of behavior that is risky…where body fluids are exchanged -you're at risk for being HIV positive - one of the best ways to find out is of course to get tested…we believe it's important to get informed -get tested - and fight discrimination."

   Courtesy Associated Press