Pittsburgh AIDS
Task Force marks 20th anniversary

The Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force is marking its 20th anniversary in 2005 by refocusing its mission and reaching out to new groups affected by and infected with HIV, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports. "We must sound the alarm again about this disease whether as a result of complacency or the need for educating a broader range of people," executive director Kathi Boyle, who took the helm of PATF a year ago, told the Post-Gazette. "Our purpose for fighting is to prevent the increasing rate of infection and to help ease the challenges of those living with HIV/AIDS."

The agency has diversified its services to include rapid HIV antibody testing and to conduct outreach to minorities--advocates had previously criticized the task force for failing to adequately serve minorities. The organization also is revamping its consumer advisory council and recently completed a confidential survey of its clients to better tailor the task force's services to the community's needs.

There are about 3,600 people living in the Pittsburgh-Southwest Pennsylvania area, according to the Allegheny County health department.