Group obtains $30,000 grant for AIDS preventive measures posted Wednesday, April 16th, 2008 @ 9:14 pm  E-mail Story |  Print Story  The Greater Ouachita Coalition Providing Aids Resources and Education will receive a one-year, $30,000 grant to support existing HIV/AIDS prevention education for the 12 parishes in northeast Louisiana. The Louisiana Community AIDS Partnership made the announcement Wednesday. LCAP, in collaboration with the Louisiana Public Health Institute and the National AIDS Fund, will give more than $100,000 to Louisiana organizations that work to improve the health and quality of life for those infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS. In recent years, 27,492 cumulative HIV/AIDS cases (including 301 pediatric cases) and 11,402 deaths (including 98 deaths among pediatric cases) were reported in Louisiana. Susan Bergson with the Louisiana Community Aids Partnership said HIV/AIDS cases and death are declining in every region of the United States except the South. She says southern states fair poorly when it comes to indicators and prevalence of overall health and HIV/AIDS. While AIDS deaths decreased in all regions by at least 5 percent from 2001-2005, deaths increased by 10.3 percent in the South, Bergson said. In 2006, Louisiana ranked fifth highest in AIDS case rates and 12th in the number of AIDS cases diagnosed. "Unfortunately, nearly 60 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS in Louisiana are struggling with unmet needs, including primary health care services," Bergson said. "While new HIV and AIDS diagnoses have been declining slightly, HIV/AIDS deaths are on the rise due to lack of support and services." The Greater Ouachita Coalition Providing Aids Resources and Education will work with the Louisiana Community Aids Partnership to help establish an advisory council to better address the needs of the HIV/AIDS population. This group will be composed of political, corporate and medical leaders as well as those in media, arts, foundations and faith-based groups.