Living with HIV/AIDS Mississippi

     We have gotten to strengthen or ability to understand just hard it is living with HIV in Mississippi. Poverty, Family rejection, Mental issues play a major role in people wanting to not seek treatment or tell their status.

Haley Barbour, On Slavery "Who Is This Man Really"

 

Haley Barbour, is this man really for African Americans NO! This is a man that is allowing the state of Mississippi go without in the fight against STD's and other pressing needs for the oppressed. African Americans need to stick together and fight to save their lives. Slavery is still alive in Mississippi and they have not fully left the African Americans aware of the epidemic that is killing them (HIV/AIDS).

Town Hall Meeting ONAP- November 16, 2009

Greetings,

My name is Sinatra Perryman and today I stand before you for those that have no voice, or are afraid of what is to come behind using their voice.

Many of us in this room know what the major and underlining problem is and many fellow Americans don’t. We can look at the rising numbers and see that, what is in place today is just not working.

In order for any strategy or town hall meeting to truly be effective, we must first know “WHY ARE THE NUMBERS GROWING”.

Today we have Non-Profit organizations that are utilizing Government funds and implementing Effective Based Interventions and most of which are lost as-to how to reach the people.

Funds that are being used to support Effective Interventions and Structured Interventions in Mississippi are currently just being funded, after careful review of some of their progress reports.

No work geared toward STD/HIV prevention is a waste, but when you can’t reach the target population, that tells me that it’s ineffective.

On a National Level, it is my opinion that we go back and take a look at what works and what doesn’t and train competent people, compassionate people, and people willing to help their fellow man and woman understand that HIV/AIDS is real, it’s here and no matter who or what you are: you can be infected.

In Mississippi alone we not only face the rise in HIV/AIDS cases, but Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, and the big one Syphilis.

Personally all I can recommend is that we stop funding organizations that are giving great presentations with statistical data, and create a system designed to put people first and salaries later.

Policies and procedures that are put in place for non-profits, for profits and many other companies willing to fight this growing problem need to be addressed. In this battle that we face, we need as many people that are willing to FIGHT.

Today I am in clear understanding that it doesn’t take a degree to know what we need it only TAKES “HIV”.

If we don’t focus more on understanding Youth and their behavior and the behavior of the target populations mainly at risk, each year more and more people will become sick or die.

It is my goal to make sure that"Miesha Rashaun Williams" the reasoning behind my standing before you today, is protected at all cost and as a voter of Barack Obama I will hold you and your staff personally responsible to see that we bring sex education to every school across America and that no man or woman fears the test of a lifetime.

As we all should know every 9 ½ minutes someone becomes infected with HIV/AIDs.

In closing, it would take two to three years to clearly outline how to address a problem that has plagued the African American community for what seems like a decade, but today we all must make a stand.

Mr. President I ask that you remain a man walking with the Quran upon you, and that you "Assist any person oppressed, whether Muslim or non-Muslim."

(END)

HIV/AIDS And African American's In Mississippi

Today I received my two day training course in STD/HIV Prevention certificate! During these two day's I have learn much about what the Mississippi State Department Of Health is doing to combat the problem on HIV/AIDS and other STD's that are affecting Black African American men and Women in Mississippi. The instructor Mr. Jerry Vardaman, was very knowledgeable and has been of great service to me since I have been on this new path. Ms. Juanita Davis the MSDH Co-chair also helped with the training and is also very knowledgeable on the subject. She is like the mother every child would love to have she's fun, energetic, witty and also smart.

The people that attended the training was very nice and really showed a genuine interest in what was been taught. Although, many were not from the target populations such as MSM, Hispanic, and PLWHA it was very interesting. Previously I had the pleasure of attending the Mississippi Community Planning Groups for HIV Prevention meeting on October 9, 2009. It really wasn't a true meeting because not even half of it's nominated members were there. This I was told by a source is nothing new.

I had a opportunity to sit face to face with the CBO's that were in attendance because the Request for Proposal that they were looking for wasn't posted accordingly. I care not to go in to details about the reasoning behind it not being posted, but the dingo was on the rabbits trail. It isn't my goal to cause any stress to anyone or ill-will for my abrupt questions and demeaning attitude, but I must do this for my people.

Today I live in a world of full awareness as to what is going on and what is going wrong. Funding for some of these programs should have never been if their methods only included what I have witnessed. I will not call names, but after viewing there progress reports and being asked to sit on the Community Planning Group by Ms. Juanita Davis Co-Chair I welcome the challenge.

Rural area's are not being served and people the numbers are climbing. We not only face the epidemic of HIV/AIDS, but in 2007 Mississippi was ranked Number 1 among 50 states in Chlamydia infections and Gonorrheal infections view stats here http://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/resources/3404.pdf .

Viewing all this new information has made me change the overall focus of the situation that is at hand. Everyday I manage to trust my instincts and venture out into the world to find what is it that is making us Black African Americans toy with our lives so recklessly. My problem was not having parents that understood this killer and it's mass destruction capabilities, and thought to talk about sex was to tell me to go and have sex at a early age. Some may say that is a common problem and I would have to agree. Abstinence is what Mississippi policy is and it's killing us. Everyday I continue to see many 14-17 year old young ladies pregnant.

When this happens the parents want to scream" What Happen" and it's their fault. To understand something and a major problem one must take a look at themselves an acknowledge what is needed and what's not.

FACTS:

• Abstinence works only if you refrain from unprotected sex.
• Yes HIV/AIDS is a major problem among African American Men and Women
• No you can't contract HIV/AIDS from direct contact with someone that is HIV positve
• TB is not a STD "Thanks Juanita For Clarifying This"
  

Summing it all up. I have suffered a great deal over the course of two years, but after enduring it all; it has been totally worth it. I feel today that it is my calling to help so many people that are failing to understand that to combat a problem, the problem must first be acknowledge and that is my goal. I intend on serving the residents of Mississippi with the utmost respect and pave the way for a new Mississippi a less infested Mississippi one day at a time. I am no writer or speaker, but it's my goal to make sure that Mississippi continues to be the Great State that we call home.

I would also like to thank Mr Craig Thompson the director STD/HIV Bureau in Jackson, MS for taking the time out his busy schedule to speak with me on October 9, 2009. He was my first contact source for sparking this great interest. This guy is really down to earth and really understanding what is wrong, but can only do so much with such limited laws to help the residents of Mississippi. My source has told me that he's not what you think, but I am not quick to judge and it's not what anyone else thinks, it's what I think!

He has been very attentive to my many needs and I can't say thank you enough to the help he has giving and the respect he has shown. However, the day that his nonconforming side introduces itself to me I will most certainly relay it to you.

Thanks,