(SIOUX CITY, IA) You may have seen the billboards around town that say "Can't wait to meet your friends!" signed HIV. It's a push by the Siouxland Community Health Center to raise awareness about the disease. HIV is spreading but it doesn't have to be a death sentence.

The Siouxland Community Health Center is a one-stop shop for HIV patients.

"We've had 14 new patients since January come to our clinic," says Sarah Davis, HIV Clinic Social Worker.

The CDC now says 56,000 new patients will be diagnosed with HIV every year.

"There's not a specific person, there's not a specific population. HIV does not discriminate," says Davis.

"But the CDC is saying some of the more rural states are seeing substantial increases in numbers," says Dr. Thor Swanson, HIV Specialist.

Since there is no cure for HIV/AIDS, doctors can't stop the disease from spreading.
  
"We need to get the pregnant women of the world treated, number one, number two we need to get everybody else treated, and then number three we have a vaccine," says Dr. Swanson.

But there are steps you can take to protect yourself.

"Abstinence only, obviously, is 100%. Also you can use condoms, those are 99.9% effective," says Davis.

If you are infected, the health center's AIDS drug assistance program can help cover costs.
 
"People who are uninsured or not enough insurance are able to obtain their anti-retro viral medications that they need," says Davis.

While 99% of HIV-positive patients will eventually die from the disease, Dr. Swanson says it doesn't have to be a death sentence.
        
"What we usually say in the United States is that 50% of infected people will be in AIDS in 10 years," says Dr. Swanson. "But if you come to your doctor, you take your medicines right the way your doctor says, you keep your appointments, I totally expect people to live almost a normal life span."

Siouxland Community Health Center offers free HIV testing at its clinic. Dr. Swanson offers a monthly HIV conference to keep health care providers updated about the disease.

For more on Siouxland Community Health Center's HIV Clinic, check out: http://www.slandchc.com/hiv.html.

Reported by Erika Thomas. You can contact her at ethomas@kmeg.com.