Annual University of Toledo aids gala educates community

Every nine and a half minutes, another American is infected with HIV.

This statistic was one of many brought up by guest speaker Danielle Van Fleet at the University of Toledo’s sixth-annual AIDS Awareness Gala.

The African People’s Association and UT’s Student National Pharmaceutical Association hosted the gala on Dec. 4 in recognition of World AIDS Day.

Van Fleet, who is also an HIV testing coordinator for the Ryan White Program on the Health Science Campus, has participated in the gala for three years as an HIV educator.

“We are more comfortable with putting protection on our cell phones than on ourselves, what is up with that?” Van Fleet said during her presentation.

This is particularly relevant to the Toledo area, as Van Fleet said Toledo ranks between 14th and 15th in the nation for the most people with HIV.

According to the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department and as of June 30, 2014, there were 891 people known to be living with HIV or AIDS in the Lucas County area.

The AIDS Awareness Gala aims to educate the UT community about AIDS and HIV through more than just a lecture; in addition to Van Fleet’s presentation, the gala consisted of poem readings, live music and dinner for those in
attendance.

“I think people love this event because it gives people a relaxed way of talking about such a hard topic,” said student volunteer Melody Orlu. “It’s definitely a judge-free zone.”

Orlu is the organization treasurer of Delta Sigma Theta, one of the student organizations helping to showcase the gala. The group sponsored baskets, sold tickets and provided volunteers throughout the event.

Orlu enjoyed spreading awareness about this crucial topic, and thought Van Fleet’s style of addressing the crowd was very successful.

“She gets really in-depth with making it okay and creates a fun environment with jokes so people are comfortable,” Orlu said.

Despite the fun, Van Fleet was also very up-front with those who attended, sharing some personal and eye-opening stories in hopes of bringing insight to everyone.

“It is very important to raise awareness; HIV is not going anywhere,” Van Fleet said. “The education has diminished, but the people affected has not.”

Many people enjoy and learn from the gala, returning every year, but there were several newcomers as well. One of those newcomers was biochemistry major Kirsten Clark, who said she learned so much from the event.

“So many people need to get educated on the subject, no matter what,” Clark said. “I’ve developed more of a sensitivity towards HIV and those with it.”

For free HIV testing or to learn more about the Ryan White Program, you can contact the University of Toledo Medical Center at 419-383-6057.