dec2015

HEALTH
By Jamie Lober
In light of World AIDS Day on December
1, it is timely to acknowledge
a valuable community resource,
the World AIDS Museum and
Educational Center in Wilton Manors.
Open since March of 2014, it is the
only museum in the world dedicated to
HIV/AIDS, which has had a profound
effect on South Floridians.
“South Florida is the epicenter of the
HIV/AIDS epidemic,” says Ed Sparan,
the museum’s operations manager.
“Of all brand-new HIV infections in the
country, Broward County is number one,
Miami-Dade County is number two, and
Palm Beach County is number six.”
“In our main gallery we have the history
of HIV/AIDS with a timeline exhibit that
traces the history back to 1908 as how
AIDS started as a monkey virus, SIV
[Simian Immune Virus,] in the Congo,”
continues Sparan. “Now there are new
medications and hope for the future.”
Striving to get out the facts, the museum
encourages everyone to get tested and
know their status. “If you are negative,
that is great and you should keep
doing the good work you are doing,”
says Sparan, adding that one of out of
every five people with HIV in Broward
is unaware of his/her status. “If you are
positive, that is okay, but you should get
the right doctor and you will be fine.”
Nursing and social
work students are
drawn to the museum,
as is everyone who
wants an education in
this important topic.
One-hour docent-led
tours explain the museum’s
exhibits.
World Aids
Museum and
Educational Center
An Important Community Resource
There are two
wonderful art
galleries: one
with educational
art
from talented
high school
students; the
other, called Owning Up, about young
and HIV positive people and how they
have an entirely different perspective
than the older generation. “There is the
stigma and rejection part of it, but talking
to the youth, they deal with it in a
whole different way that is so uplifting,”
explains Sparan.
The only such museum
in the world exists
in Broward County,
bringing knowledge
and enlightenment to a
disease with profound
implications for our
populace.
The ten-year ribbon exhibit has drawn a
lot of attention. “I saved my HIV medicine
bottles for ten years and created a fivefoot
ribbon that has 417 medicine bottles,”
says Sparan. “People who are twenty- or
thirty-year survivors see the mass or enormity
of their personal situation.”
His own involvement with the museum
evolved out of a personal issue. “I came
to the project because there was a
support group called POZitive Attitudes
and the founder, Steve Stagon, said he
wanted to open up an AIDS museum,”
explains Sparan.
It took around four years to pull it together
and then the doors were open.
“We have volunteers at the front desk
and people come in to see our exhibits,
learn, and get assistance,” says Sparan,
who adds that parties and fundraisers
are part of the museum’s activities.
The facts about the disease are daunting.
“Since 1981, 75 million people have
been affected and 39 million people
have died of AIDS,” says Sparan. “We
steer people toward free testing and
things they need to know.”
The museum is thrilled to have a contract
with the Broward County School
system. Sparan says that representatives
of the museum will shortly begin to
present a 90-minute safe sex education
program in the schools. Students will
come to the museum on class trips.
HIV/AIDS, considered a world epidemic,
can affect anyone. World AIDS Day, which
began in 1988, is the first globally honored
health day. It is a time to show a united
front in the fight against the disease, support
for people living with it, and commemorate
those who have died from it.
“This is not a gay man’s disease anymore
and it affects every community out
there, even the seniors,” says Sparan.
“We would love to have all the help we
can, as far as donations and volunteers.
If anybody has questions, we are a safe
place for you to come and learn a thing
or two about how to make better personal
choices in your life.”
For more information, visit www.worldaidsmuseum.com.
P
Jamie Lober is a nationally recognized
writer who specializes in health/lifestyle.
PHOTOS COURTESY STEVEN SHIRE PHOTOGRAPHY
102
DECEMBER 2015