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Press release from the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health:
Health Department calls on residents to go red, get tested for World AIDS Day
Wednesday is World AIDS Day and the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health is encouraging residents to go red and get tested for HIV.
“Wearing a red ribbon is one simple way to support the global fight against HIV/AIDS” says Kathy Thornson, director of the HIV/STD Prevention Program. “An even better way is for anyone with a risk for exposure to HIV to get educated, get tested and, if necessary, get treatment.”
Established by the World Health Organization in 1988, World AIDS Day serves to focus global attention on the millions of lives lost to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Globally, more than 33 million people worldwide have AIDS and more than 1,000 children are born with HIV every day.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 1 in 5 people in the United States living with HIV is unaware that they are infected.
Initiatives and events planned in commemoration of World AIDS Day in Fort Wayne include a breakfast gathering of community leaders at Calhoun Street Soups, Salads and Spirits, 1915 S. Calhoun St. On Wednesday, there will be a special observance in the Walb Student Union on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free HIV testing will be available from noon to 2 p.m.
In honor of World AIDS Day, the health department had a poster competition among graphic design students at Anthis Career Center. The winning poster, as voted on by health department staff, was submitted by Ali Al-Timeey and will be featured in the department’s clinics and on its Web site throughout the month of December. Posters will be available to area schools while supplies last. A copy of the poster is included in this release.
For more information on HIV testing, go to www.allencountyhealth.com.
Related websites:
AIDS Task Force
World AIDS Day
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