Nearly 30 years since the start of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, African-Americans, by far, bear the greatest burden of HIV in the United States. To help encourage African-Americans to get tested and to know their HIV status, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity is joining the National Association of People with HIV/AIDS (NAPWA) and organizations across the nation in support of the annual National HIV Testing Day (NHTD), June 27.
Organized annually by NAPWA, this year marks the 14th National HIV Testing Day (NHTD). It's theme, "Take the Test. Take Control," encourages people at risk to know their HIV status in order to stay healthy and protect their partners.
As part of the Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative (AAALI) - a partnership between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and 14 of the nation's leading African-American organizations to integrate HIV prevention into their existing outreach programs - Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity will join thousands of other organizations on June 27 to participate in events to encourage early diagnosis and routine testing for HIV.
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity like other AAALI members, chapters, and constituents, is supporting NHTD activities in their various communities by sponsoring local testing events and workshops, and disseminating the facts about HIV/AIDS. Each organization is committed to spreading the word about their initiative and the importance of getting tested on their Web sites and by encouraging others to visit CDC's Act Against AIDS Web sites,
www.nineandahalfminutes.org and
www.hivtest.org, where individuals can find their nearest testing location.
"We realize the importance of being on the frontline in the fight against HIV/AIDS and therefore our efforts speak to our commitment to championing this cause. Our members are encouraged TO KNOW THEIR STATUS and to bring awareness of the impact of the disease to others," said Marco W. McMillan, Executive Director for Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. On June 27th, the Phi Beta Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. in Los Angeles, California in partnership with the National Action Network will co-host a Summit Block Party at the Palms Residential Care Facility. During the live broadcast, Ron Carter, President of the Fraternity's Life Members' Club will speak about Phi Beta Sigma's involvement with AIDS/HIV awareness in the Black community.
According to CDC data released last year, although African-Americans represent about 12% of the population, they account for nearly half of all people living with HIV/AIDS (46%) and new infections (45%). Approximately one in 16 black men will be diagnosed with HIV over their lifetime, as will one in 30 black women - facts which underscore the need for the National HIV Testing Day.
The AAALI is a component of the Act Against AIDS campaign, which seeks to put the HIV epidemic back on the national radar screen. New data shows that every 9 ½ minutes, someone in the United States becomes infected with HIV. The goal of the campaign is to remind Americans that HIV continues to pose a serious health threat in the United States and encourage them to get the facts they need to take action for themselves, their partners, and their communities.
The Act Against AIDS and Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative campaigns are just a component of CDC's HIV prevention efforts, which include conducting research to develop new HIV prevention approaches, expanding access to HIV testing, tracking the course of the HIV and AIDS epidemic, and delivering proven prevention programs for those at greatest risk through its nationwide partnerships with state and local health departments and community-based organizations.
For more information on
Act Against AIDS, the
Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative, or NHTD, please visit
www.nineandahalfminutes.org.
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