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BRADENTON -- Project Smile and the AAIM commemorated World AIDS Day 2010 with their annual breakfast on Wednesday, December 1st. The event was held at the St. Paul Missionary Church in Bradenton. Wendell Martin, established AIDS activist and Master of Ceremony for the award breakfast, described the venue as a “friendly church in a friendly city.”
The guest speaker Valerie Wojciechowicz, an HIV positive aerobics instructor, had some eye opening remarks regarding the stigma of HIV positive individuals in modern times. Wojciechowicz said, “We don’t talk about it because we have lives, and we don’t want to be judged.”
She reminded the attendees that today more people than ever were living a healthy life while remaining HIV positive. Wojciechowicz cited that she is commonly told, “You don’t look like that kind of person,” as proof that public perception does not always reinforce that reality. The gathering named Richard Lagace as the community volunteer of the year for her dedication to the cause.
The Honorable Commissioner Carol Whitmore passed the Keeper of the Flame award to Dr. Douglas Walsh, Sr. Dr. Walsh has dealt with HIV from the beginning and stated, “It was like a death sentence when we diagnosed HIV positive.” Walsh, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, works out of the Michael Bach Center right here in Bradenton, which offers infection disease treatment, testing, and counseling.
Manatee County Rural Health Services, Inc. opened the facility in February 2000 to offer affordable income-based treatment of HIV and AIDS. In 2001, 61 HIV cases were reported in Manatee County. In 2002, 68 cases of HIV cases were reported. In that year, the total number of AIDS cases rose by only three cases. Col. (ret) Walter “Mickey” Presha presented the award to Dr. Walsh.
Col. (ret) Walter “Mickey” Presha, the CEO of Manatee County Rural Health Services, Inc., said that during the first reactions to the HIV outbreak that he was asked his opinion in a general discussion. He posed the question, “Think about a person that means the most to you, and imagine they go into surgery. One surgeon has HIV but is the greatest there is, the other the surgeon, who is negative, is ok. Which do you want?”
Wendell Martin remarked that in organizing the event for World AIDS Day, “I have to choose those with positive attitudes, choose those who were committed, and those who care and that’s exactly what Mr. Presha has done with his health center team.”
People can learn more about World Aids Day by vitiating their official website here.
News Section: Business and Financial
Local Groups Celebrate Success During World Aids Day
Published Saturday, December 11, 2010 2:04 am
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| Doug Walsh Sr. (left) and Walter "Mickey" Presha |
The guest speaker Valerie Wojciechowicz, an HIV positive aerobics instructor, had some eye opening remarks regarding the stigma of HIV positive individuals in modern times. Wojciechowicz said, “We don’t talk about it because we have lives, and we don’t want to be judged.”
She reminded the attendees that today more people than ever were living a healthy life while remaining HIV positive. Wojciechowicz cited that she is commonly told, “You don’t look like that kind of person,” as proof that public perception does not always reinforce that reality. The gathering named Richard Lagace as the community volunteer of the year for her dedication to the cause.
The Honorable Commissioner Carol Whitmore passed the Keeper of the Flame award to Dr. Douglas Walsh, Sr. Dr. Walsh has dealt with HIV from the beginning and stated, “It was like a death sentence when we diagnosed HIV positive.” Walsh, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, works out of the Michael Bach Center right here in Bradenton, which offers infection disease treatment, testing, and counseling.
Manatee County Rural Health Services, Inc. opened the facility in February 2000 to offer affordable income-based treatment of HIV and AIDS. In 2001, 61 HIV cases were reported in Manatee County. In 2002, 68 cases of HIV cases were reported. In that year, the total number of AIDS cases rose by only three cases. Col. (ret) Walter “Mickey” Presha presented the award to Dr. Walsh.
Col. (ret) Walter “Mickey” Presha, the CEO of Manatee County Rural Health Services, Inc., said that during the first reactions to the HIV outbreak that he was asked his opinion in a general discussion. He posed the question, “Think about a person that means the most to you, and imagine they go into surgery. One surgeon has HIV but is the greatest there is, the other the surgeon, who is negative, is ok. Which do you want?”
Wendell Martin remarked that in organizing the event for World AIDS Day, “I have to choose those with positive attitudes, choose those who were committed, and those who care and that’s exactly what Mr. Presha has done with his health center team.”
People can learn more about World Aids Day by vitiating their official website here.
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