National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
March 10, 2010 – National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
This month we are highlighting National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day! According to the Center for Disease Control & Prevention, Black women represent an alarming 65% of the total number of women currently living with HIV/AIDS in the US, and are 20 times more likely to acquire HIV than white women. NYC continues to lead the nation in the number of reported AIDS cases among 13-24 year olds.
Visit YWCHAC’s (Young Women of Color HIV/AIDS Coalition) website to see what we are doing in our community. Visit www.ywchac.org
What Can You Do?
- Get tested for HIV.
- To find a testing site center near you, text your ZIP Code to KNOW IT (566948).
- Talk with your health care provider about your risks for HIV.
Get the facts about HIV/AIDS including:
- The risk factors for acquiring HIV.
- How to avoid high-risk behaviors.
- How to practice safer methods to prevent HIV.
* Talk about HIV prevention with family, friends, and colleagues.
* Invite friends to join the cause.
* Volunteer at a local organization that serves people living with HIV.
* Attend an event near you.
* Learn more about the impact of HIV/AIDS among women in the United States.
* Stand up against stigma, racism, and other forms of discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS.
* Donate time and money to HIV/AIDS organizations like YWCHAC.
Self Love Is The New Sexy – Knowing Your Status Is Power!
For more information, visit the following sites:
www.ywchac.org
www.cdc.gov/features/WomenGirlsHIVAIDS/
Upcoming Events
5th Annual Women As The Face of AIDS Summit
The 5th Annual Women As The Face of AIDS Summit is only 4 months away. This year’s event has been expanded to 2 days -Thursday, June 24 & Saturday, June 26 to coincide with National HIV Testing Day. It promises to be two wonderful days of informative sessions and exciting topics such as parenting while positive, the impact of incarceration on HIV rates, housing stability, mental health & treatment adherence, what the faith based communities are doing and much more. Saturday’s Community Awareness Day will include free health screenings and giveaways for members of the community. Once again the summit will take place at the New York Academy of Medicine. Please visit our website for updates or contact Kimberly Richardson at 646 548-0100 ext. 221 or krichardson@irishouse.org for more details.
WELL AND AWARE
Iris House served over 1400 women in 2009; encouraging both women and girls to get tested. We conducted 2171 Rapid HIV test and distributed over a million condoms.
Iris House will recognize this important day by participating in an event sponsored by the Partnership for Family Health taking place at the National Black Theater located at 2031 5th Avenue (between 125th & 126th) on Friday, March 12th from 5pm -10pm. They will provide HIV testing, substance abuse and mental health screenings.
Sponsored in part by: NY City Council Speaker Christine Quinn
LOVE YOUR HEART
On Tuesday, March 16, Iris House in collaboration with the Black Women’s Health Imperative is co-sponsoring a community forum exploring the link between heart disease and HIV. This event targeting HIV+ women will be held at the New York Academy of Medicine from 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Speakers include Dr. Monica Sweeney of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Anna LeMon, MPH, of St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital, Shirley Alves, R.D., Director of Nutrition Services at Iris House and an afternoon breathing and relaxation demonstration by Terri Kennedy, motivational speaker. Lunch will be provided. If you would like more information or to RSVP contact Shirley Alves at 646-548-0100 *201.
To learn more about these events and future activities visit us at www.irishouse.org.Iris House, Inc.
2348 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.
New York, NY 10030
Tel: 646 548-01000
Fax: 646 548-0200
www.irishouse.org
