Stacia Ohira’s newest client is a native Hawaiian, heterosexual man who at the age of 23 has been diagnosed with full blown AIDS.
"What I do is I help them to live as best of life as possible," Ohira explained.
Hawaii‘s largest AIDS service provider and prevention organization says out of the more than 700 clients it serves 250 are Asian & Pacific Islander, or API.
"A lot of them are not thinking its going to be them," said Ohira.
The number of API Hawaii residents testing positive for the Human immunodeficiency virus went up 18-percent last year and many new infections are women and children.
"So women aren’t really perceiving themselves at risk for many reasons I think that their partners are the ones that do put them at risk," said prevention specialist Monoiki Ah Nee.
The CDC says the rate of infection in API women is higher than men and this ethnic group is the only one with significant growth over the past year.
"Its up to each individual to take responsibility and to go get tested," said Ah Nee.
"They should learn about HIV they learn how you can get it and how you can not get it," Ohira said.
Brought to the state a few weeks ago finger stick blood testing. It’s faster and more accurate than the oral swab tests for HIV.
The test reads HIV antibodies and those who get the free test know their results in 15 minutes.
But experts stress, prevention is the best cure.
"How to stay negative; first one would be abstinence, second would be monogamy, be monogamous with your partner, and the third one would be to increase safe sex," said Ah Nee.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
