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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (April 1, 2018)
SILETZ NEWS Delores Pigsley, Tribal Chairman Brenda Bremner, General Manager and Editor-in-Chief Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians Vol. 46, No. 4 Presorted First-Class Mail U.S. Postage Paid - Permit No. 178 Salem, OR Siletz News Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians P.O. Box 549 Siletz, OR 97380-0549 April 2018 Land Enhancement and Restoration Project March 26, 2018 USDA Pond Siletz, Oregon Photos by Andy Taylor Kathy Kentta, Healthy Traditions Project coordinator (far left), shows Sunny Jimenez (above) and Lily Whitehead (right) how to separate the weeds from the root tangle and clean the old dirt off for replanting. JR Butler, Youth Development Program coordinator (far right), also helped out. This spring break activity showed volunteers how to identify and remove invasive plants so our native plants can grow healthier. Tribe to participate in regional HIV prevention grant with counties, OHA NEWPORT, Ore. – Since HIV was first identified in 1984, the public health and medical communities have made great strides in advancing effective pre- vention and treatment strategies. Despite this, we continue to see new infections every year, including a consistent upward trend in newly identified HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in our region. The Oregon Health Authority is launching new initiatives to end HIV infections around the state and our region is taking part. Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians are partnering on a five-year grant to expand comprehensive HIV pre- vention strategies throughout the region. Through this grant, the regional part- ners will hire harm reduction outreach workers who will use a person-centered approach to reach out to individuals in our community who are at high risk for HIV infection. They will offer rapid HIV test- ing and prevention resources in the field, educate individuals about HIV transmis- sion and effective prevention methods, and refer persons with diagnosed STIs and HIV to treatment and other health care services. A key component of the project is educating the community about HIV/ STIs and the importance of testing and prevention. Across the state, six out of 10 Oregonians do not know their HIV status. This is of particular concern because an individual can become infected with HIV and in turn infect others for years without noticing symptoms. In addition to providing testing through the project’s harm reduction workers, this project will help strengthen partnerships between local public health agencies and health care providers across the region to improve comprehensive HIV/STI education, testing and treatment services. The project will also work with medical providers to expand the use of new prevention measures. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an example of a medication that can be prescribed by a medical provider and is effective in pre- venting HIV infection among those at high risk. This medication coupled with other strategies, such as using condoms during sexual activity and not engaging in needle sharing, are part of a compre- hensive prevention strategy to reduce the risk of HIV infection and get our region closer to ending all HIV infections. To find out more about the program, contact our regional coordinator, Erin Par- rish, at eparrish@co.lincoln.or.us. For more information on Oregon’s statewide initiative to end HIV infection, visit endhivoregon.org. Lincoln County Public Health, in col- laboration with our community partners, provides leadership to assure the condi- tions for healthy communities. Harm Reduction Outreach workers will be in the community working with individuals most at risk for HIV infection. Testing. 6 out of 10 Oregonians do not know their HIV status. Regional HIV Early Intervention & Outreach Program Linn, Benton, and Lincoln Counties and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians are partnering to provide testing, prevention, education and outreach services to individuals in the region at risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Prevention. There are effective prevention methods like condoms, refraining from needle sharing, and medication. Referral to treatment. Those who test positive for HIV will be referred to providers . to receive Community Awareness There are many preventative tools you can use to protect yourself. Use barrier methods like condoms when engaging in sexual activity. If you're at a high risk for HIV infection, there is medication that can help reduce your risk. Pre- Exposure Prophylaxis, PrEP, can be prescribed by a medical provider. Don't engage in needle sharing. Provider Collaboration We will work with healthcare providers to improve availability of HIV and other STI testing. We will educate providers to increase their knowledge of emerging preventative methods. We will help to connect at risk individuals to the healthcare system. For more information on Oregon's statewide initiative to end HIV infection, visit www.endhivoregon.org.
