PRESS RELEASE

Plainfield Health Center Hosts Dr. James Oleske
Noted Pediatric HIV/AIDS Specialist Addresses Community Professionals

For Immediate Release: Monday, April 8, 2002-PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY- The Plainfield Health Center, one of thirteen Federally Qualified Health Centers in New Jersey, dedicated to providing cost effective primary health care services for the residents of Plainfield and surrounding communities, hosted the final session of a continuous education and training series focused on pediatric HIV/AIDS, conducted by renowned expert, Dr. James M. Oleske. Dr. Oleske addressed physicians, nurses, HIV/AIDS service providers and case managers serving the Plainfield community, to provide updated medical management information on pediatric HIV/AIDS care.

Dr. Oleske discussed the advances in prophylaxis treatment and diagnostics, and stated that through advancement in medical treatment and certain types of treatment, the transmission rate of HIV from pregnant women to infants has dropped from 25% to less than 2%. Particularly due to Highly Aggressive Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), there has been a 70% drop in mortality amongst infected children. Dr. Oleske presented encouraging statistics on postponement of the 'end stage' of the disease in children. Progress has been made in postponing end stage from about six years of age, to actually having infected children attend college. The question remains, can the medical community prolong life long enough, through HAART, so that new treatment can be developed and made available to possibly cure these infected children. In addition to updating the medical providers with progress made over the last decade, Dr. Oleske focused on the importance of quality of life and community based support.

"The effects of negative life events on immune suppression in children with HIV infection are significant," said Dr. Oleske. "It is critical to support patients and their families, at the community level, to avoid increased risk for impaired immune function. Access to comprehensive, community-based and family-oriented services is key." HIV/AIDS history over the past twenty years shows that the virus always wins, however, with Dr. Oleske's HAART work, the virus is down, immune systems are up and children are living longer. It is the hope that HAART will sustain life, at an acceptable quality level, for patients to benefit from new treatment on the horizon.

About The Plainfield Health Center

The Plainfield Health Center, incorporated as the Plainfield Neighborhood Health Services Corporation, was born in 1969 under the auspices of the 1960's Model Cities Neighborhood Program. Led by a dedicated group of community activists, the Center was initially created to provide accessible health care to the residents of the West End of Plainfield.

Since then, the Center has grown, added more services, increased the number of specialties of professional health staff, and expanded its reach to the entire City of Plainfield and neighboring communities. Today, the Plainfield Health Center serves more than 17,000 patients annually. Its total care program provides adult medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, adolescent medicine, school based services, dentistry and ancillary support services.

To learn more about the Plainfield Health Center, visit our web site at www.phcmednet.org

copyright © PHC 2002