Women are still dying from AIDS

Women with AIDS are dying faster than any other group in New York City. With NYC making 10% of the American women with AIDS, a whopping 60% of them are from the Bronx and Brooklyn. In an article written by Chris Norwood of the Bronx organization, Health People, she noted that the re-distribution of Ryan White funds to Manhattan based hospitals, agencies and organizations have hurt the services offered to the poorest and mostly minority AIDS population in the Bronx and Brooklyn. What makes this re-distribution suspect is that the AIDS organizations that received the majority of the funding serve a mostly white, middle class and gay male population. In the article, “Women with AIDS in NYC: Killing Them Softy”, she notes that, “Taking away the money and services that belong to women with AIDS was all the easier because they are powerless. The “social service” industry centered in Manhattan, although it promotes itself as a “protector” of the poor, hardly protested shifts that benefited its coffers any more than influential Manhattan AIDS organizations protested.” So, what happens to these women, who by large have children and are single. Well, with the lack of support services needed to manage their illness and to assist their families, they die.

Few of the pioneers that fought for these services are still around, women need to not only struggle to keep from being infected but they now must fight to protect the very services designed to help them survive. As we move into the 2nd week of World AIDS Day events, please keep these women in mind. Support them, donate to the organizations that assist them and volunteer to community groups that need foot soldiers in ending the spread of this disease.

The following are additional World AIDS Day Events, attend one if you haven’t already.

Thursday, December 10^th

• “Free HIV Testing”, at The Church of the Open Door, 201 Gold Street, Thursday, December 10^th, light snacks available. Hosted by The AIDS Ministry of The Church of the Open Door. For more information call 718-512-5450

Saturday, December 12^th

• “It’s All About Men Again!” A Men’s Health Fair for World’s AIDS Day”, at Antioch Baptist Church, 828 Greene Avenue, Brooklyn, Saturday, Dec 12th, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Free health screenings: Blood pressure, Diabetes, Cholesterol; Free Breakfast and lunch; Free or low cost Insurance information; Theatrical performances by CAMBA & THEO; Workshops on Men’s Health Issues; Free Flu Shot; Free HIV counseling and testing. For more information contact Sharon Miller at 347-332-9027 or call 917-972-9510

Thursday, December 17th

• “Love Me Through It”,at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 279 Lafayette Avenue @ St. James Place, Brooklyn, Thursday, December   17^th, 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. A movie and dinner on us! A docu-drama that dramatizes a woman’s journey living with HIV and how the faith community responds. For more information contact Healing Touch HIV Ministry or Emmanuel Baptist Church, 718-622-1107 ext 56.

Posted by admin on Thursday, December 10th, 2009 at 4:33 PM