More education, aid needed for AIDS sufferers

More education, aid needed for AIDS sufferers

The crisis continues -- at least in huge segments of the African American and Hispanic communities. Recent news reports trumpeted the unpleasant news: after years of declining caseloads, the overall number of AIDS cases in Illinois rose 24 percent last year, the state Department of Public Health said late last week. In 1998, there were 332 fewer cases than the previous year.

One of the most troubling aspects of the reported 1,557 new AIDS cases in the state in 1999 was this: African Americans, who comprise 15 percent of the state population accounted for 56 percent of the new cases.

One of the more optimistic aspects of the new report: perhaps the sheer numbers will prompt more government, clergy and personal attention on the fatal illness that has claimed thousands of lives since the epidemic began in America nearly 20 years ago.

There should be more educational programs on ways not to contract AIDS, and more guidance from the church and more government funding to help those who have fallen victim to the AIDS/HIV virus.

As Dr. John Lumpkin, the state's public health director, said recently, "There is a sense of complacency about this disease ... people need to know that there is much more that needs to be done before AIDS is brought under control."

Those who suffer from AIDS/HIV and those who do not, must heed those sage words with a serious awareness and focus on finding concrete solutions to a malady that threatens more and more of us -- especially minorities.

Persons with risky lifestyles should aggressively monitor their behavior and conditions. The life they save may be their own.

And again, the clergy, community and government should rise up to meet -- and beat -- one of the most crucial challenges of the 21st century.

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