PRNewswire - December 17, 2002

EL MONTE, Calif., Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- In an effort to better reach some under-served Los Angeles County residents with quality HIV/AIDS medical care and social support services and outreach in the El Monte area, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the nation's largest specialized provider of HIV/AIDS medical care, and Bienestar Human Services, the largest Latino AIDS organization in Southern California, today announced a new partnership in the fight against AIDS. The joint collaboration -- a new start up medical clinic combined with social service and support programs opened today in El Monte with a community reception and ribbon cutting ceremony. A number of distinguished legislative, medical, and community providers and guests attended including Hilda Solis (D, El Monte), US congresswoman, 31st District; Judy Chu (D, Monterey Park), California State assembly Member; Rachel Montes, Mayor, City of El Monte; Dr. Tony Fellow, Vice Mayor, City of El Monte; Art Barrios, Council Member, City of El Monte; Ernest Gutierrez, Council Member, City of El Monte; Michael Weinstein, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) President; Oscar de la O, Executive Director, Bienestar Latino AIDS Project; Juan Garza, M.D., Medical Director, AHF's Healthcare Center/El Monte. The new medical facility, which will be known as AHF Healthcare Center/El Monte, will operate two days per week initially and will expand as its patient population increases.

"I am honored to join together with Bienestar and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation today in dedicating this new community HIV/AIDS health center here in El Monte," said Congresswoman Hilda Solis. "It is my hope that this state- of-the-art health care center will serve both as a convenient and important resource not only for the Latino community, but for all residents in need of such life-saving care and services in eastern Los Angeles County."

"I am proud that this new healthcare center is opening to serve the people of the San Gabriel Valley. It is time that we begin to address the issue of HIV/AIDS healthcare and prevention in communities that are underserved. I look forward to working with Bienestar and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation," said State Senator Gloria Romero, (D-Los Angeles).

"Together with Oscar de la O, Executive Director of Bienestar, Congresswoman Solis, Senator Romero, Mayor Montes and all our esteemed guests and community members, I am excited to unveil this new AIDS care partnership," said Michael Weinstein, AHF President. "This joint effort offers us a tremendous opportunity to do some significant collaborative outreach and provide quality HIV care and services for the community, in the community."

"Our goal is to make it easier for people with HIV and AIDS to access services -- medical care and social support services -- by combining both in a community-based setting," said Bienestar's Oscar de la O. "We are excited at how this venture may improve medical care and services, particularly among the Latino community which is increasingly hard-hit by HIV/AIDS, and we thank AIDS Healthcare Foundation for teaming with us to bring their years of medical expertise to the communities in Eastern L.A. County."

The AHF Healthcare Center/El Monte will be located at 3131 Santa Anita Avenue, Suite #109, El Monte, CA 91733 (626) 444-9453. Bienestar will coordinate community education and prevention efforts, support groups and other social service support. Medical Director for the new facility is Juan Garza, M.D., who also serves as the Medical Director of AHF's Healthcare Center in Upland. AHF Healthcare Center/El Monte will initially operate two days a week -- Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:30am to 5:30pm -- and will expand as its patient population increases.

"One stop shopping for medical care and services is the wave of future for truly effective HIV/AIDS care," added AHF's Weinstein. "Together, we're continuing our national model for the delivery of HIV/AIDS care and services."

AIDS Healthcare Foundation currently operates thirteen other healthcare centers in California, Florida and New York. Four of the twelve facilities are named in honor of the HIV positive basketball legend Magic Johnson (Oakland, San Francisco, West Adams/Los Angeles and Jacksonville, FL). Other AIDS Healthcare Centers are located throughout Southern California (Downtown, Hollywood, Lancaster, Redondo Beach, Upland, the Valley, the Westside, and Whittier) and in New York City. AIDS Healthcare Foundation also operates two additional medical clinics in Africa in partnership with local agencies: the 'Ithembalabantu' (Zulu for 'people's hope') Clinic in Umlazi Township, KwaZulu Natal, Durban South Africa; and 'Uganda Cares' in Masaka, Uganda.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation's Healthcare Centers provide state-of-the-art out-patient medical services to maximize the health and well-being of persons living at all stages of HIV disease regardless of a patient's ability to pay.

Each facility provides medical programs tailored to the specific needs of asymptomatic and symptomatic HIV/AIDS individuals from qualified medical and support professionals.

Services at AHF's Healthcare Centers include initial screening, on-going monitoring, radiology and laboratory work, aggressive management of HIV/AIDS with combined drug therapies, and access (for those who may choose) to clinical research trials. Other services include public benefits counseling and advocacy, mental health counseling and 24-hour access to medical advice.

It is expected that these services will also be offered through the El Monte facility to patients regardless of their ability to pay, as done in Los Angeles.

For more information, contact Ged Kenslea, AHF Communications Director in Los Angeles at (323) 860-5225 or via email gedk@aidshealth.org .

AIDS Healthcare Foundation -- is the largest specialized provider of HIV/AIDS medical care in the United States. AHF serves thousands of patients in California, New York and Florida regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. In addition, AHF currently operates two free AIDS treatment clinics in Africa: the Ithembalabantu (Zulu for "people's hope") Clinic in KwaZulu Natal, Durban, South Africa & the Uganda Cares Healthcare Center in Masaka, Uganda. http://www.aidshealth.org

Bienestar Human Services -- BIENESTAR was founded in 1989 to serve low- income Latinas/os most affected by HIV/AIDS. With more than 10 Centers in Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego counties, BIENESTAR now serves more than 50,000 individuals and families.

Services include peer emotional support counseling and referrals to medical care, translation services, spiritual and psychological counseling, public assistance, HIV and safer sex education, treatment advocacy and social groups and social events.

SOURCE AIDS Healthcare Foundation

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