WNC AIDS Project hosts annual luncheon for World AIDS Day

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — The Western North Carolina AIDS Project hosted a luncheon on Sunday in honor of World AIDS Day.

The day is meant to increase awareness of the global HIV epidemic.

It's been the goal since the day was founded 31 years ago.

"Certainly it's a day that matters especially right now because the South is the epicenter of the modern HIV crisis in the United States," said Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, the executive director of the Campaign for Southern Equality.

According to the CDC, 46 percent of all people with HIV were living in the southern United States at the end of 2015.

It's a problem that has continued almost five years later.

"We recently conducted a southern LGBTQ survey and found that five percent of all respondents are living with HIV which is about 15 times higher than the national average," said Beach-Ferrara.

Prevention and treatment advocates said the stigma surrounding HIV diagnosis still exists today.

"It has to do with whether people are actually comfortable talking with their doctors about what's actually happening in their lives, who they are, what kind of testing they might need," said Beach-Ferrara.

Although there is still no cure, the treatment available now can control the virus.

Advocates said it's about catching it early.

"One of the things we found in our survey results those in the 18-24 age bracket were more likely to not know their HIV status," said Beach-Ferrara.

She said it all starts with opening up the conversation.

"There's a lot more visibility there's a lot more understanding and there has also been tremendous advances for both treatment and prevention," said Beach-Ferrara.