Miami Herald - February 8, 2006
Darran Simon, dsimon@MiamiHerald.com

But after his cousin died in his arms, of complications from HIV, he went for a fifth test. He found out then -- Oct. 11, 1990 -- he had HIV.

At the time, he was 25 years old, a senior at Geneva College in Beaver, Pa.

Now 42, Williams has turned his condition into a positive, working as an HIV prevention coordinator among the Caribbean and African-American senior populations. He shared his story with co-workers and educators Tuesday at a National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day forum in Broward County.

Educators from Texas to Florida held their own forums for the sixth annual event, which encourages blacks to get tested, seek treatment and education.

"I needed to come out of the shadows," said Williams, who works for the county health department.

Williams admits he was in denial for about a decade. He felt healthy, didn't look sick and eventually started taking his medication.

"You are going to have your good days and your bad days but if you stick with it, you'll get over that struggle," said Williams, of Fort Lauderdale. "You are going to make it over to the other side -- and that ultimately will save your life."

Some people shun treatment because they are embarrassed or feel healthy, said Donna Markland, the Broward health department's regional minority AIDS coordinator. Lack of finances and lack of information about programs render seeking treatment a low priority, she said.

Markland said there is about $1 million to target prevention programs in minority communities in Broward. The fight must include help from others, she said.

In Florida, blacks make up about 14 percent of the state's adult population, but account for nearly half of the more than 95,000 AIDS cases. Blacks also make up more than 53 percent of roughly 33,000 HIV cases reported through December 2004 statewide, figures show.

In 2004, blacks accounted for 42 percent of HIV cases in men and 66 percent of those in women, state health figures show.

Sisters Informing Sisters About Topics on AIDS, a new program in Broward, targets black women aged 18-29. The women meet once a week for five consecutive weeks to learn about ethnic and gender pride, HIV/AIDS education, assertiveness training and proper condom use.

Sixty-one women have graduated from the program since it started last year, said Jackie Michel, the program's project coordinator.

"It's not the [HIV] test that protects you; it is your behavior that puts you at risk," said Michel, a project specialist with Care Resource, a medical and psychological service center in Oakland Park and Miami catering to those who are HIV-positive.

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