By Brandon Ecoffey
Native Sun News Managing Editor PINE RIDGE — In response to an increased number of HIV infections in Shannon County the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s executive committee has passed a resolution authorizing the approval of a new initiative to address the outbreak. In Shannon County, which encompasses the majority of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, there are a total of 29 new cases of HIV/AIDS as of January 2014. The number marks a significant increase from the 24 that were reported last year. As a kick start to the new initiative started by the tribe’s Health Education department a four directional walk was hosted in Pine Ridge last Thursday that included speakers from around the reservation, free HIV testing, free flu shots as well as a presentation on suicide awareness and prevention. In a press release from Health Education the seriousness of the outbreak was addressed. “The Oglala Sioux Tribe is extremely concerned about the rise of HIV/AIDS among the Native American population. As of January 2014, there are twenty-nine Shannon County residents who are reported infected with HIV/AIDS. Unfortunately, the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is located in Shannon County. We understand the seriousness and urgency for Health Education related to HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness,” they said. According to the Center for Disease Control American Indians/Alaskan Natives have the fifth highest rates of new HIV infections in the Nation however, according to the data from the CDC. In 2012 the CDC published recommendations on ways to track the spread of HIV in Native American communities. There recommendations included opt-out HIV testing and improving the classification process to better track minority communities. They also stressed the importance of local health departments and government agencies using HIV epidemiological data including HIV prevalence, or the estimated number of people living with HIV, to identify the populations affected by the epidemic areas. “HIV affects our communities, but low HIV testing rates and irregular HIV data collection practices obscure its true impact,” said Pamela Jumper-Thurman, a senior research scientist with Colorado State University. The resolution passed by the executive board also authorizes the Health Administration Department to do a number of preventive measures to address the outbreak. “The approach for OST Health Administration will be to increase community awareness and support, strengthen capacity and resources for early identification of high risk populations, and develop comprehensive heal education and promotion (of) activities on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and develop and maintain health education/promotion activities for HIV prevention,” the ordinance reads. (Contact Brandon Ecoffey at staffwriter2@nsweekly.com) Copyright permission Native Sun News
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