Minnesota AIDS Project Recognizes Eighth Annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 07 Feb 2008 - 3:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

HIV remains a serious public health issue in the United States and in Minnesota. As the Minnesota AIDS Project recognizes its 25th year of service, it is also essential to acknowledge the continuing disparity in HIV rates within the African American community. On February 7, 2008, organizations throughout the U.S. will highlight the mission of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day to build the capacity and increase awareness, participation and support for HIV prevention, care and treatment among African Americans.

The primary goals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day are 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.

In Minnesota, African Americans represent 22 percent of those known living with HIV and have a ten times higher infection rate than Caucasians in the state. "We need to continue to aggressively support prevention education about HIV to everyone in Minnesota, but there is an obvious need to work collaboratively to find additional ways to reach African Americans and African Born communities who are facing disproportionate risks for HIV," said Lorraine Teel, executive director of Minnesota AIDS Project.

To learn more about HIV, contact the Minnesota AIDS Project (MAP) AIDSLine at (612) 373-2437 or 1-800-248-2437. MAP AIDSLine offers statewide information and referral services, prevention education, HIV risk assessments, HIV testing and referrals to HIV testing sites, as well as additional community resources and prevention programs that serve the African American and African-born communities.

The Minnesota AIDS Project works statewide to prevent the spread of HIV in Minnesota and reduce the challenge of living with HIV through programs, partnerships, and initiatives to engage every member of our community to take responsibility and care about HIV.

Minnesota AIDS Project