Communities Seek To Address Racial Health Disparities, Raise Hispanic, Black Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness

Main Category: Public Health
Also Included In: HIV / AIDS;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 17 Mar 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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Akron, Ohio: The Akron Beacon Journal on Sunday examined the Akron Health Department's new Office of Minority Health, which opened in mid-January. According to Tom Quade, the health department's deputy director for administration, the new office will offer assistance for groups that are seeking grants, collect and maintain demographic data on certain diseases and act as a liaison to community organizations seeking to address minority health issues. The office will not create its own programs (Wheeler, Akron Beacon Journal, 3/9).

Broward County, Fla.: The South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Friday examined local efforts that address HIV/AIDS awareness among youth in the county, where more than 50% of HIV/AIDS cases are among blacks. The Sun-Sentinel featured students participating in an American Red Cross peer counselor certification program that trains teenagers to discuss HIV/AIDS and sex education issues with their peers. The paper also featured the Young Women of Color Leadership Council, which facilitates community forums to address the issue (Lewis, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 3/14).

Waukesha, Wis.: La Clinica, a local clinic that treats mostly Hispanics, at the end of the year will begin an HIV-awareness campaign targeting Hispanics that will be similar to efforts in larger cities such as El Paso, Texas and New York City, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Under the campaign, professional health staff will travel to Hispanic neighborhoods in a customized van to speak with residents about the disease, offer support and encourage testing (Enriquez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 3/8).

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