December 1 marks 35 years since the first “World AIDS Day” took place. I’m old enough to remember when the HIV/AIDS epidemic began in the early 1980’s.
While almost every new virus or disease comes with a high level of concern, the fear, paranoia and stigmas surrounding HIV and AIDS was particularly potent to say the least. Early on, the number of cases and deaths from AIDS were staggering. Without any medication or treatments, a diagnosis of HIV or AIDS was basically a death sentence. And because the medical community was still trying to understand HIV and AIDS, the unknown aspects of how they were transmitted and what could be done to protect against them only fueled the fear that was growing. Fast forward to today and you’ll see highly stylized commercials for medications like Biktarvy and Truvada which help people with HIV manage the virus.
Due to the availability of such medications the number of infections and deaths from AIDS has dramatically dropped. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 630,000 people throughout the world died of AIDS last year. In 2004, two-million people died from AIDS. While the number of HIV infections have also declined, the virus is still prevalent, especially in the American South. Louisiana recently ranked 4th in the nation when it comes to rates of HIV.
“I would say religious conservatism probably plays a role in that. A lack of access and funding of healthcare plays another role. We’re teaching abstinence and we’re not teaching about prevention, and this is the result,” said Susanne Dietzel, executive director of Project Lazarus.
For the past 38 years, Project Lazarus has been helping people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. It provides transitional housing, food, and counseling to people who are HIV/AIDS positive. Project Lazarus’ campus is located in the Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans, but in its early days, the location was kept secret. Back then, people with HIV or AIDS were often ostracized. With little to no access to help, Project Lazarus was a place where many AIDS patients saw their last days. Founded by two priests of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, Project Lazarus became one of the first AIDS hospices in the South. Before there were any medications or treatments for HIV/AIDS, Project Lazarus’ mission was to provide a refuge where patients could die with dignity. Its mission has changed over the years. Listen to how Project Lazarus got its start and how it continues to save lives, including one man who was at death’s door here.