Press Releases
Year
NATIONAL BLACK HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY OBSERVED FEB. 7 Communities Nationwide Hold Events to Raise Awareness
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: February 6, 2007
CHAMPAIGN-URBANA PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICT
DIVISION OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT
Media Contact: Candi Crause, Prevention Program Coordinator
T: 531-5372 - F: 531-5378
NATIONAL BLACK HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY OBSERVED FEB. 7 Communities Nationwide Hold Events to Raise Awareness
February 7, 2007 marks the seventh annual observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD). This national mobilization effort is designed to encourage African Americans across the United States and Territorial Areas to get educated, get tested, get involved and get treated for HIV/AIDS, as it continues to devastate Black communities. Special events such as free HIV/AIDS testing, prayer breakfasts, town hall meetings and memorial services will be held throughout the country.
While African Americans represent approximately 13 percent of the U.S. population, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the group accounts for almost half (49%) of the nation’s AIDS cases. According to the National Center for Health Statistics 2006 Report, HIV/AIDS is one of the top 10 leading causes of death for African Americans; and in the same year African Americans accounted for more than half (54 percent) of estimated new HIV infections in the United States.
To address this crisis, the Champaign Urbana Public Health District will be providing free and anonymous testing at four sites throughout the day. Testing will be providing on the Wellness on Wheels Mobile Health unit. All tests will be using an oral swab device. Results will be provided in 20 minutes for adults 18 years of age and older. Youth 13-17 will need to set-up a time to receive results 10 days later. The locations will be as follows:
U of I African American Cultural Center: 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Fair Oaks Housing, Danville: 1:00-3:00 PM Canaan Evangelistic Church: 4:00-6:00 PM
TIMES Center: 8:00-9:00 PM:
For more information on testing and sites contact: Arlene Valentine at 531-5364. For more information on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2007, please visit the website at www.blackaidsday.org.
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Public Health to Offer Human Papillomavirus Vaccine to Eligible Adolescents
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2007
Contact
Brandon Meline, Director of Maternal & Child Health
(217) 531-4297 /
Public Health to Offer Human Papillomavirus Vaccine to Eligible Adolescents
CHAMPAIGN –The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will offer GARDASIL® manufactured by Merck and Company through the State of Illinois Vaccines for Children Program. GARDASIL® is a vaccine (injection/shot) that helps protect against the following diseases caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Types in the vaccine (6, 11, 16, and 18):
- Cervical cancer (cancer of the lower end of the uterus or womb).
- Abnormal and precancerous cervical lesions.
- Abnormal and precancerous vaginal lesions.
- Abnormal and precancerous vulvar lesions.
- Genital warts.
GARDASIL® helps prevent these diseases- but it will not treat them.
You or your child cannot get these diseases from GARDASIL®.
The vaccine will be offered at the 710 N. Neil Street site during all clinic hours and at all clinic sites to 9-18 year old females that qualify for the Federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. This program provides free vaccines to children who are uninsured, underinsured, on Medicaid, or who are Native American or Native Alaskan residents. GARDASIL® is given as a series of three shots over the course of six months. Any female under 18 years of age will need parental consent to receive this vaccination. CUPHD will charge a small shot administration fee for each vaccine. No one will be denied services due to an inability to pay this fee.
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Public Health to Hold Town Hall Meetings Throughout Champaign County
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 29, 2006
Contact
Diana Yates, Communications Coordinator
(217) 531-4275
Public Health to Hold Town Hall Meetings Throughout Champaign County
Initiative Will Spotlight Existing Programs and Invite Participants to Share Ideas About the Future of Public Health
Beginning April 6, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District and the Champaign County Public Health Department will host a series of four Town Hall meetings to highlight health programs available throughout the county and to get community ideas about the future of Public Health.
Newly appointed Public Health Administrator Vito Palazzolo, representatives of the Champaign County and Champaign-Urbana Boards of Health, and Public Health division and program directors will be on hand to describe the many public health services available in Champaign County and to discuss future goals of Public Health.
Public Health officials will make a short presentation on all the programs and services offered, and will devote the remaining time to brainstorming sessions during which community members will list their top Public Health priorities for coming years. Their ideas will be organized into a report that will be made available to the public and mailed to all Town Hall participants. The report will also outline how community ideas will be incorporated into a Strategic Plan for Public Health in Champaign County.
The Town Hall meetings will be:
- U R B A N A - T h u r s d a y , A p r i l 6
Lincoln Square Village, 300 S. Broadway Ave. (for best parking, use south entrance on High Street)
- R A N T O U L - T u e s d a y , A p r i l 1 8
Northern Champaign County Community Service Center 520 E. Wabash St.
- P H I L O - T h u r s d a y , A p r i l 2 7 Philo Township Bldg., 106 S. Harrison
- C H A M P A I G N - T h u r s d a y , M a y 4 Parkland College, Rm. D-244
All events are 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Refreshments will be served.
For more details: www.c-uphd.org or (217) 531-4275.
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