HIV billboards being removed in West LV

Art Nadler

Monday, July 26, 1999 | 11:12 a.m.

Three of four controversial billboards targeting West Las Vegas as having one of the highest HIV infection rates in the nation have been taken down, and the fourth should be removed this week, Councilman Gary Reese says.

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS.

The billboards' message disturbed Reese and some residents of West Las Vegas, which prompted their removal. The billboards, erected earlier this month, had proclaimed:

"Westside. We've finally been put on the map! One of the highest HIV infection rates in the nation. It's a FACT."

The billboards were sponsored by the nonprofit organization FACT, which stands for Fighting AIDS in our Community Today.

Jocelyn Nixon designed the billboards and said they were meant to be part of an awareness campaign. She said their negative publicity turned out to be positive because they made people aware of HIV disease and brought attention to FACT.

"Hopefully, this will encourage people to join our group," Nixon said. "Now people know who FACT is. This has been, without a doubt, a successful campaign."

Reese said he was against the billboards because HIV disease is high throughout Southern Nevada and not just West Las Vegas. The nonprofit organization said that according to Clark County Health District statistics, 20 percent of HIV infections are concentrated in the West Las Vegas ZIP code area of 89106.

In response to the billboards' removal, two nonprofit organizations -- the Healthy Families Project and Positive Women's Network -- will conduct what they call a "community education outreach" event from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday in the Town Tavern parking lot, 670 W. Jackson St.

"Our main goal for this outreach is to educate the community and hopefully help in stopping HIV/AIDS from touching so many more lives," Janelle Delgado, an educator, said in a written statement.

Delgado said educators at the event will present information and answer questions on how the black community is affected by HIV and AIDS. Also, she said, educators will discuss ways to practice safe sex.

The Healthy Families Project, 2500 Apricot Lane near Decatur Boulevard and Smoke Ranch Road, provides outpatient treatment for women suffering from substance abuse. It is sponsored by United Way of Southern Nevada.

The Positive Women's Network, 2099 N. Jones Blvd., seeks to educate women about HIV/AIDS and how to live with the disease.

The Clark County Health District reported that at the end of June, there were 1,591 people living with AIDS in the county and 2,085 living who tested positive for HIV.

Las Vegas has been ranked 24th in the nation out of 75 cities with populations of more than 500,000 for HIV and AIDS cases.

For information on HIV/AIDS, contact Aid For AIDS of Nevada at 382-2326.