Participate in the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day February 7, 2007!

Throughout the years, overall rates of HIV/AIDS infection have declined in the U.S. Nevertheless, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HIV/AIDS is still a health crisis for African Americans.  In 2005, African Americans, who make up approximately 12% of the U.S. population, accounted for almost half of the estimated number of HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed. 

February 7, 2007 is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) – a day to build the capacity and increase awareness, participation and support for HIV prevention, care and treatment among African Americans.  It marks the seventh year of this annual event, which has as its primary goal, to motivate African Americans to get tested and know their HIV status; get educated about the transmission modes of HIV/AIDS; get involved in their local community; and get treated if they are currently living with HIV or are newly diagnosed.  

NBHAAD is directed, planned and organized by the Strategic Leadership Council who partners with the CDC to mobilize communities and address specific issues in regards to local epidemics and best practices that are science-based and will influence the course of HIV in Black communities across the country. NBHAAD’s expected outcomes include:  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; increase collaboration and sharing of resources at the national and local levels; increase resources and support including capacity building assistance for health departments, community-based organizations and stakeholders serving Black communities; and increase the number of Blacks at high risk for acquiring HIV that receive HIV counseling, testing and other HIV prevention, treatment and care services. 

The need for HIV/AIDS prevention in African-American school communities

A February 2006 fact sheet published by the CDC entitled “HIV/AIDS among African Americans”, shows not only that, in 2004, HIV/AIDS rates among African Americans were the highest for all racial and ethnic groups in the U.S., but also that, of the estimated people under the age of 25 whose diagnosis of HIV/AIDS was made during 2001-2004, 61% were African American.   Moreover, of the 48 U.S. children (younger than 13 years of age) who had a new AIDS diagnosis, 29 were African-American. 

Given this scenario, it is imperative that schools be involved in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS, and on February 7, specifically on combating the disease among the racial group most affected by it. 

To learn more on how to support and/or sponsor NBHAAD’s initiative, please visit http://www.blackaidsday.org/Support_Sponsorship.html.

For additional information, please contact:

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2007

c/o: Healthy Black Communities, Inc.

2978 Rainbow Drive, Suite A155

Decatur, Georgia 30034

Voicemail: (888) 259-9534

Fax: (404) 972-0300

Email: info@blackaidsday.org