The Life
Foundation observes
15 years of HIV/
AIDS activism

The group is 'redoubling
our efforts to ensure that our
prevention work is as
aggressive as ever'

By Helen Altonn
Star-Bulletin

THE Life Foundation is starting its 16th year with "hope and optimism" for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, says Executive Director Paul Groesbeck.

While observing its 15th anniversary with reflections on the past, he said the organization is trying to anticipate future needs.

For instance, it has begun a Treatment, Education and Advocacy Program to help HIV/AIDS patients confront issues that prevent them from taking advantage of new lifesaving drugs, he said.

For mothers who have HIV, Groesbeck said, "AIDS has always been an end-of-the-day problem, after you cope with raising children, relationships, housing ... "

Percentagewise, he said, the trend in incidence of HIV infection among women hasn't declined. "We will push to have that turned around in the future."

First case arose in 1981

The state Health Department began collecting data on AIDS cases in 1982. From then until last September, 2,217 cases had been reported. About 2,300 to 3,200 people are estimated to be HIV-positive.

Dr. David McEwan, chief of family medicine at the Honolulu Medical Group, organized the Life Foundation with three associates in 1982 and incorporated it in 1983.

He remembers thinking at the beginning, "It's going to be a long-term task, even though a lot of people hoped it would be short."

McEwan said he referred Hawaii's first AIDS case in 1981 to Dr. Donald Abrams, now co-director of the AIDS unit at San Francisco General Hospital.

He said Abrams told him the disease was caused by a virus and he couldn't get any money to prove it, "but I should work on that assumption."

While not knowing then how the virus was spread, McEwan said he felt "we needed to be proactive and get the message out whether people liked it or not. . . . We started promoting prevention right from Day 1."

Few child cases in isles

The theme for Tuesday's World AIDS Day, "Force for Change: World AIDS Campaign with Young People," reflects the fact that five young people are infected with HIV every minute worldwide.

Groesbeck said, however, "we have been very fortunate in Hawaii" with only 15 pediatric cases reported since the AIDS epidemic began. Probably several dozen more children are HIV-positive, he said. "But that is a very small number over the 17 years of the epidemic."

When he joined the Life Foundation in 1992, Groesbeck said, "The future was pretty much what it had been for the years preceding it. AIDS was pretty well considered universally fatal. There was no particular optimism relative to medication and certainly cures or vaccines."

Now, he said, "We find a lot of really good news. The death rate has declined greatly." And while a lot of stigma still is attached to AIDS, Groesbeck said, thousands of volunteers provide support for HIV-infected people and organizations helping them.

He said there are concerns that the good news will cause people with high-risk behavior to be less cautious about protecting themselves.

"We will observe this 15th anniversary by redoubling our efforts to ensure that our prevention work is as aggressive as ever," he said, "because nobody wants to be the last person killed in a war."

There is no end in sight for the HIV/AIDS war, he added, "but there is a great deal of hope and optimism."

Ten new cases every month

Groesbeck said the foundation is assisting just under 500 clients, with an average of 10 new ones every month.

"The number of people coming through our door has not declined greatly over the years. Folks still are being infected, and some folks come to us who have known they were HIV-positive for a long time."

With people living longer with HIV/AIDS, he said the foundation will start looking at return-to-work issues and continue adjusting programs "to be relevant to the present and the future."

World AIDS Day events include concerts, films, Hula's opening World AIDS Day activities, partially supported by Hawaii Medical Service Association, will be observed: SATURDAY An HIV/AIDS awareness booth, Prince Kuhio Plaza, Hilo. SUNDAY 4 p.m.: Life Foundation's 15th anniversary, 4-7 p.m., opening of Hula's Bar & Lei Stand, second floor of the Waikiki Grand Hotel, 134 Kapahulu Ave. MONDAY 7:30 p.m.: The Honolulu Men's Chorus, directed by Andrew Thomas, concert in observance of World AIDS Day at Leeward Community College. Tickets are $12.50 in advance; $15 at the door. Students with identification and senior citizens are $12.50 at the door. Tickets are available at the LCC box office, 455-0385. TUESDAY Events at Kapiolani Community College: Sunrise: Natural flower "quilt" making on the central mall. 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.: NAMES Project Quilt panel display in Lama Library. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: HIV/AIDS health awareness and community agency resource booths, drama and music, and food booths. 10 a.m. to noon: "Simple Courage," a documentary by local filmmaker Stephanie Castillo comparing the struggle against AIDS with experiences of Molokai's Hansen's disease patients. Discussion after the screening in Ohia, Room 118. 10:30-11:45 a.m.: Discussion sessions on peer education, HIV/AIDS and communication, and women and HIV. Noon to 1:30 p.m.: Panel discussion by people affected by HIV/AIDS, including those living with AIDS, in Ohia, Room 118. 2-4:30 p.m.: "Licensed to Kill," a documentary on hate crimes, with discussion afterward, in Ohia, Room 118. 4-5:30 p.m. "Common Threats," a documentary on the NAMES Project, with discussion following, in the Lama Library. 5-8:30 p.m.: Maui residents Al and Jane Nakatani will discuss the loss of two sons to AIDS and one to murder. Entertainment: Sun Drummers, Jerry Santos, Kim Char Meredith, the Honolulu Men's Chorus, the Honolulu Women's Chorus, piano soloist Tom Poole, Kawika Napoleon and students. Jade Moon will emcee. Candle lighting will end the program in Ohia cafeteria. For more information on KCC events, call Kathy Sullivan, assistant professor of nursing, 734-9309 or (pager) 577-8924. ALSO TUESDAY Candlelight memorial: Orchid Village Restaurant, Waiakea Villas. Guy and John Cruz will entertain; silent auction. Tickets are free to clients, $15 and $25 to others. For more information, call the Big Island AIDS Project, 981-2428. Display: an HIV/AIDS awareness table, red ribbon and safe-sex kit distribution at Kauai Community College. For more information, call Malama Pono, 822-0878. CONTACTS Kona -- For event information, call the West Hawaii AIDS Foundation, 322-1718. Maui: Call the Maui AIDS Foundation for event information, 242-4900. Molokai: Call the Maui Aids Foundation's Molokai Office, 553-9086. Lanai: Call the Maui AIDS Foundation's Lanai Office for information, 565-6722. Diamond Head Health Center: 733-9281. RIBBONS More than 100,000 ribbons will be distributed at shopping malls, schools, universities, churches, organizations and businesses, including Starbucks, 7-11 and Fastop outlets.