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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2005

CONTACT: Thel Sargent
Columbia/Boone County Health Department
(573) 874-6331

Columbia joins nationwide response to AIDS crisis among African-Americans
									
	(COLUMBIA, MO) - On February 7, 2005, African-American leaders and health organizations of Columbia will respond to the impact of HIV and AIDS in the city's African-American communities in the fifth annual observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness & Information Day (NBHAAD). 
	Special outreach and testing will be held to encourage citizens to get educated, get tested and get involved with HIV/AIDS prevention as the disease continues to disproportionately affect black communities.
	"Seventy-two African-Americans are infected with HIV every day," said Thel Sargent, health education and risk reduction specialist at the Columbia/ Boone County Health Department. "African-Americans make up approximately 12 percent of the population of the United States, yet 38 percent of total AIDS cases reported in this country are among members of the black community. In 2003, more African-Americans were reported to have HIV/AIDS than any other racial/ethnic group. In this region, 43 percent of people diagnosed in 2003 with HIV/AIDS were black."
	Columbia is one of more than 60 cities across the U.S. that will sponsor programs on Feb. 7 to call attention to the problem and seek solutions to halt the epidemic. Initiatives planned in recognition of NBHAAD in this area include:  
*	Expanded hours for OraQuick rapid result testing on Friday, Feb. 4
*	Outreach HIV testing at Martin Hall, Lincoln University on Friday evening, Feb. 4, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
*	OraSure outreach HIV testing at Brady Commons on MU campus Monday, Feb. 7, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.  
	National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness & Information Day is co-funded and sponsored by the Community Capacity Building Coalition (CCBC), a coalition of organizations committed to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS in the African-American community. The coalition is funded by the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) through the National Minority AIDS Initiative.  
	For more information about National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness & Information Day, call Thel Sargent at (573) 874-6331 or visit www.blackaidsday.org.


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