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Hope Center, Combats HIV/AIDS in Columbus

Maria Jones

Story Created: Jul 8, 2009 at 2:53 PM CDT

Story Updated: Jul 8, 2009 at 9:43 PM CDT

The spread of HIV/AIDS is continuing to rise at an alarming rate. In Muscogee County there are 16-hundred cases alone. NBC 38’s Maria Jones sat down with local organization who is working hard to educate the public, while combating the disease. Founder and Chairman of The Better Way Foundation, Living with Hope Center, Jeremy Hobbs says, facing the real issues of HIV-AIDS is one of the major set backs in combating the illness. “What ever we have to do to give you the courage, the strength, the know how please bring it, bring it on. That’s what we want you to do we want you to attend the support groups, Hobbs explained. That Support is the main focus of the foundation, helping those infected and their families live with HIV-AIDS. Hobbs added, “They don’t want to talk about it, oh I don’t want to talk about HIV, you know it’s going to be okay. No its not, people need their families during this crisis and also that families need to be educated, that’s something else we offer too.” During the sessions medical representatives explain all aspects of the illness both physically and mentally. Providing information on the newest medications for fighting the disease. “And you see the barrel chest or you see the skinny arms and the sunken in face. We can help you overcome that but you have to start today. Because if you don’t it gets harder and harder and harder to pull back from that, the inevitable,” Hobbs stated. Current studies show, African American females as leading in the number of infections. He said, “African American women comprise of 68 percent of HIV cases, and African American men comprise of 66 percent of HIV cases. And that lets me know two things: We are not talking about it at churches, were not talking about it at school. Were not talking about proper evidence based prevention methods and also telling people, go get tested.” Hobbs says his mission has been questioned since starting this foundation. But his goal remains the same.
“Status knowledge is power, the sooner you catch it, if you do have it, its better to know it now then find out ten years from now when it’s already advanced to AIDS,” Hobbs said.
On September 19th the First Annual HIV-AID Walk is being held in Columbus. The 5K Run/3 mile Walk will raise money for the cause. There will be free HIV Testing open to the Public. For more info you can call 706-580-6239 or log on to www.betterwayfoundation.com.