 "World AIDS Day focuses global attention on the devastating impact
of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Here in Illinois, we are keeping that
promise by providing the resources necessary to make sure people
have access to quality care and getting the word out through our
awareness efforts," Blagojevich said.In 2005, the Illinois
Department of Public Health estimated that 42,000 people in Illinois
were living with HIV/AIDS. Just over 31,000 of these individuals
have been tested and know their HIV status. An estimated 10,000
HIV-positive Illinoisans (25 percent) do not know they are infected
with the disease.
"For an estimated 42,000 Illinoisans living with HIV, and the
tens of thousands of others affected by the epidemic, every day is
World AIDS Day," said Mark Ishaug, president and CEO of the AIDS
Foundation of Chicago. "Statewide, gay and bisexual men, youth,
women and people of color remain at heightened risk, reminding us
that HIV/AIDS does not discriminate. We must redouble our efforts
to address the very factors that fuel HIV/AIDS in all
communities, including poverty, substance abuse, homelessness and
the lack of health care and prevention services."
The governor has directed the Illinois Department of Public
Health to educate and raise awareness about HIV prevention. The
agency is sponsoring more than a dozen HIV/AIDS testing and
awareness events across the state, including a full day of HIV
activities on Saturday with the Broadcast Ministers' Alliance of
Chicago at the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition headquarters, 930 E. 50th St.
in Chicago. Workshops and rapid HIV testing are free and open to the
general public. IDPH Chief of Staff Quin Golden will receive an
award on behalf of Rainbow/PUSH for her public service in working
with community-based organizations, specifically in the
African-American community, to ensure their participation in state
public health programs.
Many other events planned for World AIDS Day observance are the
result of a partnership with the state's National Association for
the Advancement of Colored People Health Committee. (A list of
events follows this news release.)
"I believe one of the major reasons for the increased incidence
of HIV/AIDS among African-Americans in our communities is directly
related to lack of knowledge and apathy," said Barbara Jones, R.N.,
B.S.N., chairwoman for the NAACP Illinois State Conference Health
Committee. "Fortunately, through our partnership with the Illinois
Department of Public Health, the NAACP Illinois State Conference
Health Committee will be able to tackle both issues in honor of
World AIDS Day. As a result of this partnership, we have motivated
communities throughout Illinois to attend various NAACP-hosted
HIV/AIDS activities and provide them lifesaving information."
Of new HIV/AIDS cases in Illinois, 54 percent are
African-American. In Illinois, African-American women represent more
than two out of three (68 percent) women living with HIV. In an
effort to decrease the racial disparity, Blagojevich launched the
Brothers And Sisters United Against HIV/AIDS campaign in September
2005 to address the increase of HIV/AIDS in the African-American
community. BASUAH focuses on education, prevention and testing and
targets African-Americans to specifically address the increase in
HIV/AIDS cases reported within that community. This year more than
$5 million was made available for the BASUAH campaign, the IDPH
Center for Minority Health Services and the newly created
African-American HIV/AIDS Response Act for culturally sensitive
targeted prevention efforts.
The Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender
community is also greatly affected by HIV and AIDS. In Illinois,
gay and bisexual men account for some 60 percent of new AIDS cases
reported each year. Throughout Chicago, organizations such as the
Howard Brown Health Center also reach out, including free testing on
Friday.
"As Illinois' largest private provider of HIV and AIDS services,
Howard Brown salutes all those brave men and women, boys and girls
who are living with HIV or AIDS and remember those whom we have
lost," said Michael Cook, Howard Brown president and CEO. "We thank
all of those who work with us every day serving those most in need."
Blagojevich is an aggressive leader in the fight against
HIV/AIDS. Overall, the governor has increased HIV/AIDS funding by
almost 70 percent since taking office -- from $46 million in 2003 to
more than $78 million in this year's budget.
The governor's proclamation for World AIDS Day reads as follows:
WHEREAS, preventing
the transmission of HIV infection and stopping the spread of AIDS
necessitates a worldwide effort to increase communication, education
and action; and
WHEREAS, the United
Nations now estimates that 33.2 million people worldwide are living
with HIV/AIDS; and
WHEREAS, in
Illinois, the number of AIDS cases has reached nearly 35,000 with
more than 54 percent of these lives lost to this devastating
disease; and
WHEREAS, the World
Health Organization has designated December 1 of each year as World
AIDS Day, a day to expand and strengthen the worldwide effort to
stop the spread of HIV and AIDS; and
WHEREAS, the World
AIDS Day 2007 slogan, -- "Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise" with this
year's theme "Leadership" -- highlights the need for innovation,
vision and perseverance in the face of the AIDS challenge. The
campaign calls on all sectors of society such as families,
communities and civil society organizations, as well as governments,
to take the initiative and provide leadership on AIDS; and
[to top of second column] |
WHEREAS, this day in Illinois is commemorated by a number of events
across the state, including the dimming of the lights atop the
Illinois State Capitol dome and at the James R. Thompson Center in
Chicago during the evening hours to coincide with the dimming of the
lights at the White House in tribute to those infected with and
affected by HIV and AIDS;
THEREFORE, I, Rod R. Blagojevich, Governor of the State of Illinois,
do hereby proclaim December 1, 2007 as AIDS AWARENESS DAY in
Illinois and encourage all residents to take part in activities and
observances designed to increase awareness and understanding of
AIDS, to take part in AIDS prevention activities and programs, and
to join in the efforts to prevent transmission of HIV and further
spread of AIDS.
For information on HIV/AIDS, free counseling and
testing services, call 1-800-243-2437 or TTY 1-800-782-0423 between
9 a.m. and 9 p.m. on weekdays and between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on
weekends. Information about HIV/AIDS is also available at
www.basuah.org.
World AIDS Day events sponsored by the Illinois
Department of Public Health:
Nov. 30
"When HIV
Hell Hits a Holy House"
East St.
Louis Senior High School
4701 State
St.
East St.
Louis
6:30 p.m.
Free HIV
rapid testing offered on the IDPH Wellness on Wheels van
Dec. 1
Champaign-Urbana Holiday Parade
Downtown
Champaign
Champaign
5:30 p.m.
IDPH Wellness on Wheels van
on-site
Bloomington-Normal Branch NAACP
Viewing of "Tangy's
Song"; group discussion; free HIV rapid testing
Mount Pisgah
Baptist Church
801 W.
Market St.
Bloomington
3-5 p.m.
Chicago
Westside Branch NAACP
World AIDS
Day brunch; speakers; free HIV rapid testing
Bethel New
Life
1140 N.
Lamon St.
Chicago
10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Joliet
Branch NAACP
Community
worship service with speakers; free HIV rapid testing
Mount Olive
Baptist Church
1710 Carey
St.
Joliet
6 p.m.
Kankakee
County Branch NAACP
HIV
symposium and luncheon
Kankakee
Community Center
Kankakee
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Peoria
Branch NAACP
Viewing of "Ruzzian
Roulette"; group discussion led by film producer
WTVP 47
television station
101 State
St.
Peoria
1-4 p.m.
Free HIV rapid testing offered
on the IDPH Wellness on Wheels van
Rockford
Branch NAACP
HIV
community awareness event with speakers and free HIV rapid testing
Ellis Arts
Academy
222 S.
Central Ave.
Rockford
6-8 p.m.
Springfield
Branch NAACP
HIV
community awareness event
Springfield
Boys and Girls Club
300 S. 15th
St.
Springfield
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Chicago
Bulls basketball game
BASUAH
promotion during the game
United
Center
Chicago
7:30 p.m.
Broadcast
Ministers Alliance of Chicago
Workshops;
speakers; HIV rapid testing
Rainbow Push
Headquarters
930 E. 50th
St.
Chicago
9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Dec. 2
Greater All
Nations Tabernacle Church of God in Christ
Community
worship service
1000 S. 19th
St.
Springfield
11:30 a.m.
Main Street
Church of the Living God
Community
worship service
2000 N. Main
St.
Decatur
11 a.m.
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |
