Our New Grant

On July 26, 2010 I found out that I got the IHS Rapid HIV Testing Initiative grant that I wrote back in April 2010.  Ti-chee has been committed to breaking down the barriers and stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS here in Indian country and to systematically slow the progress of HIV/AIDS, and eventually stop the spread of HIV/AIDS all together.  The only way to do this is to detect HIV/AIDS among our people through HIV screening.  Ti-chee has made a committment to test anybody who would like to know their sero-status and through this grant that is now possible.  We have committed to testing 2400 natives over a two year period in Lummi, Nooksack, Upper-Skagit, Swinomish, and Tulalip here in the Pacific Northwest .  That means that we are offering free Rapid HIV Testing for those individuals who would like to take an HIV test.  We are partnering with the Tribal Health Clinics of each participating tribe and their respective CD organizations so that MTS or Medical Test Sites can be set up at both the clinics and the CD offices.  In this way, we will be offering tribal members alternative test sites to choose from.  In addition to this testing model, we are also offering "In-home" testing where Ti-chee can bring Rapid HIV Testing to member's homes which we feel is less intrusive and keeps the tribal member in their comfort zone.  Ultimately, it is our goal to routinize HIV screening within the tribal communities to the point where a routine visit to the clinic will include an HIV screening and the member will not have a second thought about the process.  Just as you would take a blood sugar reading for diabetes, HIV screening will just not be that big of a deal.  Rapid HIV Test Kits cost us just under $12.00 per test and with this test's accuracy, routine HIV screening is here to stay.  Look for more on our Rapid HIV Testing Initiative as we move ahead thru the next two years.  This is an exciting time for us and we want to share it with everyone.

Ken