Wed., December 1, 2010 12:07pm (EST)

World AIDS Day in Georgia
By Courtney Ward
Updated: 2 years ago

ATLANTA  —  
The World AIDS Quilt is on display at Emory University as one of many events througout the state celebrating World AIDS Day (Image Courtesy PBA)
The World AIDS Quilt is on display at Emory University as one of many events througout the state celebrating World AIDS Day (Image Courtesy PBA)
Today is World AIDS Day. Organizations and institutions across Georgia are holding events to raise awareness and promote HIV/AIDS testing throughout the week. Several organizations are also using today to rally for greater state funding.

Cathaleen Teahan [TEE-AH-HAN] with the Georgia AIDS Coalition says state funding is important for prevention but people also have to get tested.

“In a lot of areas in the state of Georgia, not just Atlanta and Savannah, but places like Augusta and places like Macon, you have issues with stigma and as a result people don’t want to come out and get tested and that helps increase the spread of the disease.”

Teahan says there are over 700 people on the waiting list for AIDS drug assistance programs.

The CDC ranks Georgia among the top ten states with the highest number of reported HIV/AIDS cases.