Subject: National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 3, 2006

CONTACTS: Julie Pryde, Director
Division of Infectious Disease Prevention
& Management, (217) 202-0657

Diana Yates, Communications Coordinator
(217) 531-4275, mobile: (217) 202-7781
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District



Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
Joins Nationwide Response to AIDS Crisis
Among African Americans
HIV Counseling and Testing Available at Two Local Sites



CHAMPAIGN-URBANA – On February 7, 2006, black American leaders and
organizations of Champaign-Urbana will respond to the impact of HIV
and AIDS in the city's African American communities in the sixth
annual observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD).
On that day, Public Health's Wellness on Wheels Mobile Health Unit
will offer HIV counseling and testing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at
Restoration Urban Ministries in Champaign.

This event is meant to encourage Champaign County residents to get
educated, get tested, get treated and get involved with HIV/AIDS as it
continues to devastate black communities.

"Seventy-two African-Americans are infected with HIV every day," said
Julie Pryde, Director of Public Health's Division of Infectious
Disease Prevention & Management. "African-Americans make up
approximately 13 percent of the population of the United States, yet
almost half of the 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 or ethnic group. In Illinois in 2003, 52% percent of
people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS were black. Since 1981, more than
30,000 Illinoisans have been diagnosed with acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (AIDS). Of that figure, about 53 percent have died. The
number of Illinois cases is the sixth highest total in the U.S.,
trailing New York, California, Florida, Texas and New Jersey.

Champaign-Urbana is among the more than 100 cities across the U.S.
that will sponsor programs on February 7 to call attention to the
problem and seek solutions to halt the epidemic.

Initiatives planned in recognition of National Black HIV/AIDS
Awareness Day in Champaign-Urbana include:

• National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day – TESTING EVENT
Location: Restoration Urban Ministries
WOWee Mobile Testing Unit
1213 Parkland Court
Champaign, IL 61821
Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

This event will include HIV prevention information and materials. All
HIV testing is done with the Orasure oral test free of charge.

• HIV COUNSELING & TESTING/ SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE (STD)
CLINIC will also be available at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health
District Main Building, 710 N Neil St., Champaign, from 1-5 p.m.
Services include HIV/STD testing, hepatitis vaccination and safer sex
information and materials.

• HIV COUNSELING & TESTING services will be provided by Public
Health in collaboration with the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and
Community Health Improvement Center (CHIC) at Richland Community
College in Decatur, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event is also part of
Brothers and Sisters United Against HIV/AIDS, a statewide initiative
targeting African Americans for HIV information and testing.
(www.basuah.org)


Karla J. Grimes, Prevention Specialist
Division of HIV/STD/TB Prevention & Management
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
217 N. Broadway
Urbana, IL 61801

217.239.7827 (office)
217.202.1288 (cell)
217.239.0126 (fax)

kgrimes@... (e.mail)
www.cuphd.org CUPHD's website
http://www.cuphd.org/hivstdtb.htm Division of HIV/STD/TB's website
www.ilregion6.org IL HIV Regional Implementation Group's website
www.cuphd.org/wow Wellness on Wheels' website & mobile clinic location
schedule
www.outzoneonline.com OUTzone Gay Youth Group's website