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National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

February 07, 2007

The message is clear. . .

GET EDUCATED, GET TESTED, GET INVOLVED, GET TREATED!!!!!

While African Americans represent approximately 13 percent of the U.S. population, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the group accounts for almost half (49%) of the nation’s AIDS cases. According to the National Center for Health Statistics 2006 Report, HIV/AIDS is one of the top 10 leading causes of death for African Americans; and in the same year African Americans accounted for more than half (54 percent) of estimated new HIV infections in the United States.

“Statistics show that African Americans have been disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS since the epidemic’s beginning some 25 years ago,” says Dr. John Robertson, Executive Director of National Black Alcoholism and Addictions Council, one of the lead organizations for NBHAAD. “If we increase the dialogue and get everyone involved, we will be able to galvanize our communities to take action and stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.” While NBHAAD is a nationwide effort, organizers have made a Call to Action for the 26 cities with the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS for African Americans to host a “RE-Sound the Alarm” Town Hall Meeting to ensure that Black communities realize that the epidemic is not slowing; it is picking up steam in certain parts of the country.

These cities include:

New York, NY; Washington, DC; Miami, FL; Chicago, IL; Atlanta, GA;
Baltimore, MD; Los Angeles, CA; Houston, TX; San Francisco, CA; Dallas, TX;
Detroit, MI; New Orleans, LA; Memphis, TN; Boston, MA; St. Louis, MO;
Virginia Beach, VA; Orlando, FL; Jacksonville, FL; Columbia, SC; Tampa, FL;
Baton Rouge, LA; Cleveland, OH; Richmond, VA; Charlotte, NC; San Diego, CA; Philadelphia, PA

Source: 2007 Press Release from NBHAAD at http://www.blackaids.org

Posted at 08:48 AM by Shantrie in the News & Media category/ies.