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Today marks the 10th anniversary of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. It was founded by five black organizations and funded by the Center for Disease Control. The day was created with the purpose of raising awareness about the basics of HIV/AIDS and to encourage black people to get tested in their local communities. For people who are living with HIV, it is a day to get them connected with the right treatment and services.
NBHAAD is led by Strategic Leadership Council comprised of ten organizations that plan the initiative, and provides guidance, direction, and strategic thought around how to get more Black community stakeholders involved and engaged each and every year. The council’s leadership comes from Healthy Black Communities, Inc. an organization founded to promote healthy black communities through community development. HBC Inc. is responsible for the day-to-day operations of NBHAAD including communications, website development, and organizing resources on a regional and national level.
Due to the Blizzard of 2010, many of the events scheduled this weekend in DC have been cancelled or postponed. Check back here for details on rescheduled events. Some other events are still scheduled to happen during the week such as:
Whitman-Walker Clinic will offer free HIV testing at both of its sites in the week following National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day:
• 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Max Robinson Center, 2301 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE.
• 9:00 am-7:00pm, Monday and Wednesday, and 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St., NW.
Testing will also be available as part of the STD Clinic on Tuesday and Thursday nights at the Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center from 6:00-7:30 pm.
The SMART (Suburban Maryland AIDS Reduction Team) program will also provide free HIV testing on Wednesday, Feb. 10, from 10:00 am-6:00 pm at the Holy Redeemer Metropolitan Community Church at 4907 Niagara Rd., Suite 102, in College Park
On Tuesday, Feb. 9, and Thursday, Feb. 11, from 9:00 am-5:00 pm at the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Dennis Avenue Health Center, 2000 Dennis Avenue, Silver Spring.
For more information about NBHAAD, visit the website www.blackaidsday.org.
To read an interview with LaMont “Montee” Evans, CEO of Healthy Black Communities, Inc., click here.
Get tested. Get Care. Get Involved.
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