February 7 is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
February 7th is recognized annually as the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) – a nationwide community mobilization effort to increase awareness, participation and support for HIV prevention, care and treatment among African-Americans.
The 2006 observance marks the sixth year of this annual event. The first NBHAAD was held on February 23, 2001 sponsored through a collaboration of five national non-profit organizations funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and known then as the Community Capacity Building Coalition (CCBC). The date changed in 2002 and is now recognized on February 7th of each year.
Currently, NBHAAD is directed, planned and organized by the Strategic Leadership Council in partnership with the CDC to mobilize communities and address specific issues in regards to local epidemics and best practices that will influence the course of HIV in Black communities around the country. This council oversees NBHAAD along with the National Steering Committee which assists in the overall planning and coordination of what will occur before and on February 7th.
The main goal of NBHAAD it to motivate African-Americans at risk for HIV to get educated and tested, and to motivate HIV/AIDS stakeholder involvement in prevention education programs, HIV testing, press conferences, community forums and other activities to raise awareness, participation and support for HIV prevention among black Americans.
The expected outcomes of this awareness day include: 1) increase reporting of accurate up-to-date statistics on the HIV and AIDS epidemic among blacks by electronic and print-media, radio and television stations; 2) increase collaboration and sharing of resources at the national and local levels; 3) increase resources and support including capacity building assistance for health departments, community-based organizations and stakeholders serving black communities; and 4) increase the number of blacks at high risk for HIV and AIDS to receive HIV counseling, testing and other HIV prevention, treatment and care services.
Events and activities to honor NBHAAD will be held in multiple cities and locations around the U.S. In order to verify whether or not an event is being held in your city, as well as obtain tools and information regarding the event, please visit the NBHAAD website at http://www.blackaidsday.org/.
For additional information, please contact:
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2006
c/o Healthy Black Communities, Inc.
2978 Rainbow Drive, Suite A155
Decatur, Georgia 30034-1605
Phone: (888) 451-1072
Fax: (404) 972-0300
Email: info@blackaidsday.org
Source: National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day website.