Thursday, Sept. 15

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Governor to Launch Campaign Against Spread of HIV/AIDS           Send a link to a friend

[SEPT. 15, 2005]  CHICAGO– Governor Rod R. Blagojevich will announce a new initiative that aims to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS. Tomorrow, Gov. Blagojevich will launch the BASUAH (brothers and sisters unite against HIV/AIDS) campaign, an aggressive outreach program specifically geared to reach the African American community with HIV/AIDS education, prevention and testing.

In 2004, the number of reported AIDS cases declined by four percent compared to the previous year. But, while AIDS cases declined, the number of HIV cases grew. In 2004, a total of 2,662 persons reported HIV infection in Illinois, an increase of nearly 16 percent over the previous year. African Americans accounted for more than half the reported cases with 1,406, although they represent just 15 percent of the state’s population. Of the total reported HIV cases among females in Illinois, 70 percent were African-American. Nearly 72 percent of African American women and 64 percent of African American men with HIV infection reported were under 40 years of age.

The BASUAH Project is an aggressive outreach campaign to build on the Governor’s long-standing effort to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The Governor will be joined by Legislative Black Caucus, Yusuf Omar, Consul General, South African Consulate; Dr. Eric E. Whitaker, Illinois Director of Public Health and Prominent African American Community Leaders at 11:00 a.m. at Northeastern University Center for Inner-City Studies Auditorium, 700 E. Oakwood in Chicago.

[News release from the governor's office]


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