National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is February 7

February 6, 2006

ATLANTA (GA) – African American leaders and organizations across Georgia will host a variety of activities and events to encourage citizens to get educated, get tested, get treated, and get involved to mark the sixth annual observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD), Tuesday, February 7.

“AIDS disproportionately affects African Americans across the country and in Georgia,” said Dr. Stuart Brown, director of the Division of Public Health. “In the U.S., AIDS is the number one cause of death among African Americans aged 25-44. Seventy percent of all reported AIDS cases in Georgia are among African Americans.”

For these reasons, health officials say, the Department of Human Resources works closely with HIV/AIDS groups in Georgia, with outreach to the African American community emphasizing how to prevent the disease, and how to get proper treatment.

Nationally, 72 African Americans are infected with HIV every day. Although African Americans make up approximately 13% of the population of the United States, they account for almost half of the total AIDS cases reported in the country. In 2003, more African Americans were reported to have HIV/AIDS than any other racial/ethnic group.

Call DHR’s HIV/STD information line at 800-551-2728 to get a listing of local National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day activities and HIV testing locations across the state. For more information about National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, visit www.blackaidsday.org. For information about HIV/AIDS in Georgia, visit the Department of Human Resources website at: http://health.state.ga.us/programs/stdhiv/index.asp.

For information, contact:
Mike Mullet, 404-657-1388
mjmullet@dhr.state.ga.us