Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Joins Nationwide Response to AIDS Crisis Among African Americans
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2008
Contact
Candi Crause, Interim Director of Infectious Disease
(217) 531-5372 /
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Joins Nationwide Response to AIDS Crisis Among African Americans
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Celebrates National Black HIV / AIDS Awareness Day with Special Testing Clinics
Champaign, IL – February 7, 2008 marks the seventh annual observance of National Black HIV / AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD). The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) is responding to the impact of HIV and AIDS in local African American Communities by offering special testing clinics throughout the week. Sites will include the Nesbitt Cultural Center at the University of Illinois on Wednesday, February 6 from 9:00am – 2:00pm; the New Life Church of Faith in Danville on Thursday, February 7 from 6:00pm – 9:00pm; and the Decatur Masonic Temple in Decatur also on Thursday, February 7 from 4:00pm – 8:00pm. CUPHD encourages citizens to “Get Educated, Get Tested, Get Treated and Get Involved” with HIV / AIDS as it continues to devastate African American communities.
“HIV is 100% preventable,” said Candi Crause, Interim Director of Infectious Disease for CUPHD. “The key to overcoming this crisis in the African American community is to not only to educate people on the facts as they relate to HIV / AIDS, but to open the door of communication. Like most infectious diseases, HIV spreads through silence and ignorance. Only by working openly together, can we hope to stop this epidemic.”
72 African Americans are infected with HIV everyday. African Americans make up approximately 13 percent of the population of the United States, yet almost half of the total AIDS cases reported in the Country are among members of the African American Community. In 2007, HIV / AIDS was one of the top ten leading causes of death for African Americans between the ages of 25 and 44.
The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District’s Infectious Disease Division offers HIV education, prevention, testing and treatment at their new location at 201 West Kenyon Road in Champaign. Appointments are available Monday thru Friday; 8:00am – 4:00pm by calling 217239-7827. CUPHD also offers “Rapid Testing Tuesdays” from 4:00pm – 5:30pm – no appointment is necessary.
For more information on HIV / AIDS education, prevention, testing and treatment or any CUPHD programs please contact CUPHD at (217) 352-7961 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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