World AIDS Day provides the opportunity to thrust into the spotlight the AIDS epidemic, a disease that has shortened the lives of millions of people, most of whom live in poor countries like Kenya and India. But Kings County, whose population lives on incomes many times that of the Third World, isn't immune from the disease. Dozens of patients annually seek HIV and AIDS treatment from the Kings County Department of Public Health, where they receive state-of-the-art medications. But even the most impoverished HIV patients can get medications for free, according to Dr. Annie Wong, HIV specialist for the local health department.

"They are lucky to live in this country," she said. "They wouldn't get free treatment in many other countries."

The department plans to celebrate World AIDS Day on Monday by giving out pamphlets to government agencies countywide, in a show of philanthropic force designed to raise awareness for the disease that has ruined millions of families worldwide.

"It will help educate the community about AIDS," said Araceli Gomez, the department's HIV/AIDS health educator. "One can become more aware of AIDS through education."

Twenty-five county departments will be given a flier with an option to post it on their windows, walls and doors on Monday. The hope is that thousands of people in Kings County will stop and take note of the importance of World AIDS Day -- and how AIDS has knocked down many families worldwide.

"Having fliers spreads education for any community member to observe World AIDS Day," Gomez said. "We must strive to promote awareness to try to better people's lives."

In addition, 1,000 red ribbons will be given to county employees to commemorate the day, in a symbolic showcase of the sweeping impact AIDS has brought to millions globally.

AIDS has hit Kings County with solid punches, with almost half of the total HIV cases in the Kings County Department of Public Health between 2006 and 2008 identified as AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).

During the same time period at the department, Latinos made up 90 percent of the new infections, about double the percentage of their population in the county; heterosexual activity made up nearly two-thirds of the transmissions, striking down the notion that AIDS is a gay disease; women comprised 40 percent of the total HIV patients; half of the new infections occurred among young people, similar to worldwide rates; and those diagnosed late with advanced AIDS comprised 80 percent of the all the new HIV cases.

"These are the people that have been invisible, stigmatized, voiceless and discriminated," Wong, Kings County's only physician specializing with HIV patients, said of her patients.

Wong's job, however, is to lend her patients a voice. That way they can begin the process of healing toward a healthy life.

"I'm here to see, hear and touch our HIV community as a first step toward healing and wholeness in our Hanford community," Wong said.

Local experts say Latinos tend to treat sex as a taboo topic, resulting in contamination to more and more sexual partners countywide.

"Sex is often a hush topic among Latinos," Gomez said. "Anglos are more open."

The result is much of the county's population remains untested for HIV, a precursor to unprotected heterosexual intercourse, which is believed to be the leading cause for HIV transmission in Kings County.

In a fight against such trends, Wong recommends early diagnosis and treatment, which will delay the onset of AIDS and extend lives. That means simply getting a free confidential test at the clinic, in a procedure known as Rapid HIV testing, from Monday through Friday (call 584-1401). Those who get tested receive results in 20 minutes. Anyone that has had unprotected sex; has had more than one sex partner; and has shared needles, had tattooing or piercing should get tested.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2423.