Growing number of confirmed HIV cases in the Permian Basin

MIDLAND, TX (KWES) - An Odessa resident posted a Facebook post earlier this month highlighting the annual number of confirmed HIV cases in Ector and Midland counties.

Looking at the last six years of data from both counties, there was a large spike in confirmed cases.

Both Ector and Midland county had a larger increase from 2017- 2018 than any of the five previous years.

Officials of PermiaCare Basin Assistance Services Center say with the four to five intakes a week that they’re currently seeing around four times as many people in a month than they would typically see.

“In the past, we would probably average about five or six [people] a month, so we are getting our months worth in a week,” said a Team Leader of the PBASC Delfina Ponce.

PBASC’s goal is to make the people that seek treatment through them reach a point to where their virus is undetectable so its “un-transmittable”.

Some of the services PBASC offers are:

· HIV Specialist clinic visits

· Free Condoms

· Regular blood work

· Medication assistance

· Dental care

· Referred physician services

· Medical case management

· Rides to medical appointments

· Education/awareness on HIV diagnosis

· Individual and group counseling

· Housing and utility assistance (HOPWA)

· Social services case management

In addition, they also offer free HIV testing on-site with an appointment.

For more information visit their website at www.PBMHMR.com.