The mission of AVOL Kentucky remains the same; to collaborate with communities to end HIV in the Commonwealth. An annual fundraising event on Thursday furthers that cause.
“Dining Out for Life” has been on AVOL and many Lexington citizens' menus of fall activities for years. Just one of the beneficiaries of the fundraiser is 26 units of housing for the medically vulnerable. Jon Parker is executive director of AVOL Kentucky.
“Over and over we keep saying housing is health care because you really can’t get well or achieve a certain level of health if you are always concerned about being displaced or if you’re homeless,” said Parker.
25% of the tab at some 54 participating restaurants goes to support AVOL services for those with HIV. Parker said there were the same number of restaurants last year, but ten are different this time.
Parker said vulnerability and stigma remain issues when it comes to living with HIV. Parker noted people living with the disease may still keep it hidden thinking others will treat them differently if they know. Parker added gains in treating those with HIV have been significant.
“You know we have made a lot of progress, but we also still know that there’s a lot of people who have yet to ever get tested for HIV. Maybe living with HIV, but don’t know it. I know in Kentucky that we have evidence that people don’t test until they get sick and that means they would have had it for a long time,” said Parker.
Parker said a more manageable amount of drugs is now taken by those with HIV. He doesn’t see a vaccine coming along anytime soon, so prevention remains critical..
