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Memphis, TN. - The Memphis and Shelby County Health Department along with African American leaders and organizations in our community will unite with cities across the country to observe National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness and Information Day on Wednesday, February 7, 2007. The kick-off news conference will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Andrew A.M.E. Church at 1472 Mississippi Blvd. The purpose of the observance is to educate African Americans about HIV/AIDS and its devastating effects on communities. The day is also part of a national mobilization effort to get African Americans to learn more about the threat posed by the disease, get tested, and make a commitment to fight HIV/AIDS. National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness & Information Day is co-funded and sponsored by the Community Capacity Building Coalition (CCBC), a coalition of organizations committed to halting the spread of HIV/AIDs in the African American Community. The coalition is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the National Minority AIDS Initiative.
Mr. Vincent Glover, Manager, Infectious Disease says, "According to the 2000 Census, African Americans make up 12.3% of the United States population. As of December 2005, African Americans account for approximately 399,637 (40%) of the 988,376 estimated AIDS cases diagnosed since the epidemic began. There are an estimated 476,749 people currently living in the United States with HIV/AIDS. African Americans represent an estimated 47% of them, that's 225,270 individuals living with HIV/AIDS. As of December 2005, 19,372 residents of the State of Tennessee have been infected with HIV/AIDS. Of the 12,928 persons currently living with HIV/AIDS in Tennessee, African Americans represent 56% (7,199 persons). As of December 2005, 7,570 residents of Memphis and Shelby County have been infected with HIV/AIDS. Of the 5,008 persons currently living with HIV/AIDS in Memphis and Shelby County, African Americans represent 81% (4,040 persons)."
Again, this year, St. Andrew A.M.E. Department of Community Services, located at the Community Life Center, 1472 Mississippi Blvd. is the host for a number of events, through February 11, 2007. NHBAAD coordinators Sharron Moore-Edwards of St. Andrew's Project H.O.P.E. (HIV/AIDS Prevention & Education Program) and Ernest Donelson, founder/president of Black AIDS Memphis, along with the planning committee for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day invites the entire Memphis community to come out and participate in the following events:
- Wednesday February 7, 2007: At 9:00 a.m., HIV counseling and testing will begin at the St. Andrew A.M.E. Church's Community Life Center, 1472 Mississippi Blvd., continuing throughout the day. Giveaways and door prizes will be presented to those wishing to receive counseling and testing. At 11:00 a.m., a National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day news conference will be held at St. Andrew A.M.E. Church. Community mobilization begins at 3 p.m. with a live remote broadcast featuring V101.1 FM “The Stan Bell Show” until 7 p.m. The 3rd Annual "Breaking the Silence: Poets & Artists Speak Out Against HIV/AIDS" is set to start at approximately 7 p.m. that evening as some of Memphis' most talented African American spoken word artists and others take the stage, hosted by V101.1 FM "Thought Exchange" Aisha Raison and the Real Amazing Mindblowing Poet (RAMP), featuring music by M3.
- Sunday February 11, 2007: At 2 p.m. “Let’s Get Tested For Valentines Day”, Hallelujah Gospel 95.7 FM with Tracey Bethea will host a live remote broadcast at St. Andrew’s Community Life Center with jazz and neo-soul music featuring LILA. Activities include a Sunday brunch, open discussion forum, HIV counseling testing and liturgical dance. Door prizes and giveaways will also be available.
For more information on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day please contact Sharron Moore-Edwards at (901) 775-2968 or (901) 461-3313, Ernest Donelson at (901) 335-5931 or (901) 525-3609. Also visit NBHAAD website: http://www.blackaidsday.org.
For more information regarding HIV/AIDS counseling and testing, please contact the Memphis and Shelby County Health Department's HIV/AIDS Education Program at (901) 544-7329, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
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