For over 20 years, NCAP has been the community-based organization that has led the response to HIV and AIDS in Northern Colorado. The agency has evolved according to the needs of people living with HIV and AIDS, along with adapting to public policy and attitudes towards the disease.

NCAP is the only AIDS service organization in 16,000 square miles that provides comprehensive medical case management and prevention education/outreach services, including confidential HIV testing. We have developed an extensive network of collaborative and cooperative service providers throughout our vast geographic rural/frontier service area to ensure HIV/AIDS care and prevention remain in our local communities.

Unlike Hepatitis A and B, Hepatitis C does not have a vaccine¹⁷. There is also no treatment that is guaranteed to cure either acute or chronic Hepatitis C infection. It is estimated that about 15%-25% of those with acute Hepatitis C infection will “clear” the infection, often before an infection is suspected, and treatment can improve the chances of “clearing” in chronic cases¹⁴. There are numerous treatments available to mitigate liver damage, along with certain lifestyle changes (such as limiting or stopping alcohol consumption), that those with Hepatitis C can discuss with their doctor.

 

Footnotes:

 

1. "HIV Basic Information." 3 Sept. 2008. Centers for Disease Control. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/basic/index.htm>.

 

2. "How HIV Causes AIDS." 6 Mar. 2006. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://www.niaid.nih.gov/factsheets/howhiv.htm>.

 

3. "HIV related opportunistic infections: prevention and treatment." 8 July 2008. AVERT. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://www.avert.org/aidscare.htm>.

 

4. "AIDS." MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. 19 May 2008. U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National institutes of Health. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000594.htm>.

 

5. "How long does it take for HIV to cause AIDS?" 20 Oct. 2006. Centers for Disease Control. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/qa/qa4.htm>.

 

6. "HIV Prevalence Estimates - United States, 2006." Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 1 Oct. 2008. Centers for Disease Control. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5739a2.htm>.

 

7. HIV and AIDS in Colorado. United States. Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Denver, CO, 2008.

 

8. "Colorado Statistics." Colorado AIDS Project. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://www.coloaids.org/costats.html>.

 

9. "HIV/AIDS Risk Factors." HIV/AIDS. 9 Aug. 2008. Mayo Clinic. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hiv-aids/ds00005/dsection=risk-factors>.

 

10. "How safe is the blood supply in the United States?" 20 Oct. 2008. Centers for Disease Control. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://www.cdc.gov/HIV/resources/qa/qa15.htm>

 

11. Henkel, John. "Attacking AIDS with a 'Cocktail' Therapy." July-Aug. 1999. United States Food and Drug Administration. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/1999/499_aids.html>.

 

12. "Human Anatomy: The Liver." WebMD. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/human-anatomy-the-liver>.

 

13. "Hepatitis C symptoms." 27 Apr. 2007. WebMD. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://www.webmd.com/hepatitis/hepc-guide/hepatitis-c-symptoms>.

 

14. "FAQs for the Public - Hepatitis C." 10 Jan. 2008. Centers for Disease Control. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/c/cfaq.htm>.

 

15. "Hepatitis C." 14 Sept. 2007. Mayo Clinic. 10 Nov. 2008 <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hepatitis-c/ds00097>.