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Report Identifies New HIV Cases In Central Florida; County Official Discusses Findings
An annual report by the Health Council of East Central Florida released on Wednesday said that nearly 800 new cases of HIV were reported in Central Florida in 2008 and blacks and Hispanics remain disproportionately affected, the Orlando Sentinel reports. The report was presented to the Ryan White Planning Council, according to the Sentinel. The report said that there are now more than 4,000 people living with HIV in the area, and another 4,400 living with AIDS. In addition, a majority of the new cases of HIV were among blacks and Hispanics, according to the report (Maza, 7/29). In an interview with the Sentinel, Debbie Tucci, the Orange County Health Department"s HIV/AIDS program coordinator, discussed the findings. She said, "HIV/AIDS is not in the forefront the way it used to be. We"ve been talking about this for a long time, and people just don"t think it"s going to happen to them." She added, "The disease doesn"t care what your race or ethnicity is. Now we target minorities more, and what"s happened is that they"re getting tested more. Prevention strategies are absolutely working. There"s always room for improvement, but we"ve come a long way - especially among minorities" (Maza, 7/30).

Association Between Subjective Symptoms Of Sleep Quality, Daytime Sleepiness And Declining Quality Of Life
A study, "Longitudinal Evaluation of Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Sleep Symptoms with Change in Quality of Life: The Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS)," in the Aug. 1 issue of the journal Sleep indicates that self-reported worsening in initiating and maintaining sleep over a five-year period was significantly associated with poorer mental quality of life, and increasing daytime sleepiness symptoms were associated with both poorer physical and mental quality of life.
News of the day
Needle Exchange Programs Needed To Prevent Spread Of HIV, Letter To The Editor Says
"Despite making strides in addressing HIV/AIDS, we have not reached all individuals and communities with the full range of prevention tools needed to reverse the epidemic," Jirair Ratevosian, chair of the American Public Health Association International Health Section"s Advocacy and Policy Committee, writes in a Washington Post letter to the editor. Ratevosian continues, "Congress has a chance to help by lifting the ban on federal funding for syringe exchange programs," adding, "Such programs do more than just distribute clean syringes; they link people into the health care system and drug treatment programs." Ratevosian also discussed support of needle exchange programs by several national health organizations and concludes, "It is imperative that effective approaches to preventing HIV be accessible without delay" (Ratevosian, 7/24).
Oncology

Canadian Blood Services Calls On Donors For Critical Months

As National Blood Donor Week begins, Canadian Blood Services is calling on donors across the country to give the life-saving gift during the critical summer months and ensure that the national blood inventory remains at acceptable levels. "While we recognize the ongoing contributions of donors across Canada, the need for blood never stops. This is certainly true during the summer when people focus on vacation plans and warm weather activities," said Ian Mumford, Chief Operating Officer of Canadian Blood Services. "Donations made in June, July and August will help to ensure that we are able to meet hospital demand for blood and blood products." Canadian Blood Services forecasts that it needs to collect 226,000 units of whole blood, 13,000 units of plasma, and 10,000 units of platelets during June, July and August to meet hospital demand throughout the country. The organization also forecasts that it needs 25,000 units of O negative blood type during the summer to meet hospital demand. (The O negative blood type can be given to most people). Canadian Blood Services is celebrating National Blood Donor Week - which begins today and culminates with World Blood Donor Day on June 14 - and issuing a special call for donations of blood, plasma and platelets over the summer months. An increase in hospital demand last summer led to the need for Canadian Blood Services to call on donors nationwide as the national blood inventory was depleted by 40 per cent. Canadians responded, and within three weeks inventory levels were back to optimum levels. "We want to prevent any reduction in inventory levels that would again make it difficult to meet hospital demand, which is why we are reminding people that it is important to donate blood, plasma and platelets during the summer," said Mark Donnison, Executive Director of Donor and Clinic Services at Canadian Blood Services. Mr. Donnison noted that people who donate during National Blood Donor Week will be eligible to donate again around the civic holiday and Labour Day long weekends - other historically challenging periods. Most donors book an appointment to donate blood. However, it is common for appointments to be cancelled or for donors to not show up at a scheduled time as the weather warms up and people travel for vacation. Yet, demand for blood never stops and Canadian Blood Services has to keep up with hospital demand throughout the year. The organization is therefore required to book more appointments than usual during the summer months to counter a drop in donor attendance. Canadian Blood Services theme for National Blood Donor Week is "It Takes all Types," which serves as a reminder that almost anyone can donate blood; all types of blood are needed (A, AB, B and O); and three different types of donations (whole blood, plasma and platelets) can be made. To donate your type of blood, call 1 888 2 DONATE (1-888-236-6283) today to book an appointment. Canadian Blood Services also invites people to learn more about the OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network. You could be the OneMatch to save a person"s life. Please visit http://www.onematch.ca for more information. About World Blood Donor Day World Blood Donor Day falls within National Blood Donor Week on June 14 - the birth date of Karl Landsteiner, a pioneer of transfusion medicine. Every year the World Health Organization selects a country to host international celebrations. This year"s host is Australia with the theme "It Takes all Types." About National Blood Donor Week In 2008, a bill was passed by the federal government in Ottawa recognizing National Blood Donor Week as an opportunity to celebrate and thank the donors and volunteers of the blood system in Canada who ensure the health of their fellow citizens. The week also builds awareness of the importance of blood, plasma, platelet and bone and stem cell donations, and encourages Canadians to donate or become a volunteer - especially during the challenging summer months. By The Numbers - Canadian Blood Services needs close to 1 million blood donations in 2009 - Units of whole blood that need to be collected from June to August: 226,000 - Units of plasma that need to be collected from June to August: 13,000 - Units of platelets that need to be collected from June to August: 10,000 - Donors can give blood every 56 days, or six to seven times each year - Plasma and platelets can be donated more frequently than blood - Approximately one in two Canadians are eligible to give blood - Last year, one in 60 Canadians made a blood donation - All blood types are needed (A, AB, B and O) Canadian Blood Services


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