Erie Family Health Center

This month Erie Family Health Center will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of our nationally-recognized HIV/AIDS program, Lending Hands for Life. Erie will host an event called Paint the Town Red, which will celebrate the life of the program and the patients that have become part of the Erie family.

In the last 20 years, the progress in the treatment of HIV has been truly spectacular.  In the early 1980s, a diagnosis of HIV was a death sentence.  In 1987, the AZT drug was approved and using this alone dramatically slowed progression to AIDS.   There was great optimism for a while, but unfortunately, the progression to AIDS was delayed only for one or two years.  This medication, however, proved the concept that medications could be developed to treat the ravaging effects of HIV on the immune system.  Over the past two decades, there have been 25 medications developed to treat HIV and when used wisely they are remarkably effective at treating HIV.  Not all people with HIV/ADS have access to quality health care and medications in our country due to barriers such as the cost of care; that is why programs like Lending Hands for Life, where people are treated regardless of their ability to pay, are so important. When patients are connected to care at places like Erie, they have access to the life-saving medications they need.   Every few years, with pharmaceutical developments, the medications have become easier to take, with fewer side effects and even fewer pills. 

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