Miami Herald - December 1, 2005
Darran Simon, dsimon@herald.com and Andrea Robinson

She uses chalk and scribbles to tell Broward schoolchildren and others in the community about the shock of learning she had contracted HIV 14 years ago. She talks about the denial, a miscarriage, a second pregnancy, then, a precious little boy named Christian. She'll mention the mission that grew out of her misfortune, all while drumming home a strong message.

"You are the most important person in your life," said Kuryla, 40, whose son, Christian, was diagnosed with HIV when he was seven months old. "Protect yourself."

Kuryla, an educator for Broward's Children's Diagnostic & Treatment Center, is one of four speakers who will gather today at the Broward County Main Library to commemorate World Aids Day. They will be part of thousands of events worldwide.

The United Nations estimates some 40 million people are infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. About 2.2 million of them are children, according to the UN, which launched a campaign to fight the disease in children.

Earlier this year, Broward educators and others promised to do something to stop the spread of AIDS. Today's theme is Stop AIDS! Keep the Promise.

SIMPLE THINGS

"It doesn't have to be something huge or complicated," said Jean Starkey, Broward's chairperson of the World AIDS Day committee. "Two of the most simple, powerful things that one can do is get tested and use protection." The ceremony, which starts at 2 p.m. at the Main Library, includes performances by schoolchildren, a candlelight vigil and free AIDS testing.

In Miami-Dade, more than 1,000 activists and health care workers will meet at the Coconut Grove Convention Center for a two-day conference about advances in treatment, clinical trials and testing and prevention.

Some 400 Miami-Dade middle and high school students from Liberty City, Overtown and Brownsville -- areas with the county's highest HIV infection rates -- will be there.

During group rap sessions, students boast of engaging in highly risky unprotected oral and anal sex, with the mistaken belief that they are protected from the virus, said Janet Robinson, a local AIDS educator and conference co-chair. "The kids told us they're having anal sex because that means they're still a virgin," said Robinson. "They believe they're indestructible."

BREAKING SILENCES

Tonight, attendees will read aloud the names of more than 300 men, women and children in Miami-Dade who have died of complications related to the virus.

State Sen. Frederica Wilson, D-Miami, will take an AIDS test to serve as an encouragement to other women. Later today, she and other local and state female elected officials will speak out at a Miami Gardens symposium about early detection.

Communities must talk about HIV and AIDS with children and young adults, Wilson said.

Kuryla knows the value of open communication about AIDS.

She has told her story many times to schoolchildren.

Get tested regularly and stay clear of the risk factors. Not just sex, but contact with others' blood, she stresses.

She contracted HIV from an ex-husband who she said knew he was infected before they married in 1992. She found out after a pregnancy test. She lost the baby three days later.

But she was in denial. She didn't live that "lifestyle" she said.

She had unprotected sex and got pregnant again with Christian, who was born with HIV.

Doctors told her that Christian wasn't expected to live past his fifth birthday.

He turned 9 in October.

"He is a miracle baby," Kuryla said.

She told him he had HIV about seven years ago. She wanted his life to be as normal as possible.

"My responsibility was to love him enough to tell him," she said. "He wants to be loved. He wants PlayStation and Xbox. He wants the same things other kids want."

More children born with HIV are living longer because of advanced medication, she said.

RISING RATES

Activists and advocates are coming together at a prickly time in the fight. Broward AIDS cases per capita spiked 48 percent and Miami-Dade cases increased 29 percent between 2003 and 2004, according to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.

The numbers means the Greater Fort Lauderdale area leads the nation in metropolitan areas for AIDS cases per capita. Greater Miami is number two.

But the number of actual AIDS cases isn't rising, according to Broward and state health officials. Aggressive testing, referrals for medical follow up and enhanced laboratory surveillance contributed to the increased numbers, they say.

But William Darrow, who works with an AIDS outreach program, disputes that notion. The numbers are rising because of a lack of resources, not increased testing, said Darrow, project director for REACH 2010, an effort to reduce HIV disparities in Broward's black communities.

"The fight seems to be going better everywhere except here," said Darrow, whose REACH 2010 AIDS prevention program lost $400,000 in federal funding this year.

"We have a more serious problem that has yet to be addressed."

CDC figures show that young people are hardest hit: Those under 25 make up nearly half of all new HIV cases nationwide, though they are only one-third of the population. Children's Diagnostic and more than 10 community groups hope a new youth center planned for Sistrunk Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale will help in the battle.

LARGE GRANT

In October, the North Broward Hospital District gave Children's Diagnostic a $159,000 grant to operate the center. It will provide health screenings for pregnancy, HIV, medical treatment, mentoring and more for those in the 12 to 24 age range.

The aim is to make connections with young people and let them know they have a place to turn to, said Marie Hayes, director of the Comprehensive Family AIDS Program, one of the services at Children's Diagnostic.

"Kids do well when they have that support," Hayes said. "If we can affect change in this community, I think it can ripple out."

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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