INDIANAPOLIS — State health officials say the impact of HIV/AIDS within minority communities has been devastating, especially among African Americans.
In 2008, Indiana had 513 newly reported HIV/AIDS diagnoses. This brought the total number of persons in Indiana diagnosed with HIV/AIDS to 8,866. Almost 42% of the new HIV/AIDS diagnoses were in African Americans.
To encourage African Americans and other minorities to get tested for HIV and become educated about the virus, the Indiana State Department of Health, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, and the Indiana Minority Health Coalition will host the Sixth Annual Statewide HIV Awareness Program on Thursday Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. to Noon at the Madame Walker Theatre, 617 Indiana Ave. in downtown Indianapolis.
This year's event is free and open to the public. Mistress of Ceremonies will be WHHH 96.3 Radio Personality and HIV/AIDS advocate JJ.
The Program will feature two HIV/AIDS advocate special guests: Nicole Ari Parker and Tasha Jones.
Nicole Ari Parker is an actress and HIV/AIDS activist. She has starred in Remember the Titans, Boogie Nights, Imagine That with Eddie Murphy, and Soul Food: The Series, with Boris Kodjoe, whom she married in 2005. She and her husband share a personal interest in encouraging young people to value their education, strive for their own individual goals, and live healthy lives.
“HIV/AIDS is still a vital issue around the United States, including Indiana,” said State Health Commissioner, Judy Monroe, M.D. “It is important for African Americans and other minorities to realize they have the power to prevent the spread of these diseases. Events such as the Statewide Awareness Program are great ways to educate Hoosiers about HIV/AIDS prevention.”
Tasha Jones is a poet, educator, social and political activist and Indiana's 2008 Poet Laureate Nominee, the youngest in the state’s history.
"African Americans are diagnosed with HIV at an alarming rate," said Dr. Monroe. "One of our main goals is to empower Hoosiers with the appropriate tools to prevent HIV/AIDS."
For more information on HIV/AIDS in Indiana, go to the Indiana State Department of Health Web site at: http://www.statehealth.in.gov/ and click on the 'HIV/AIDS in Indiana" button on the left-hand side of the page.
