The Stand
The 10th annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day took place Feb. 7.
Though a national event, the Central New York HIV Care Network and Black Leadership Commission on AIDS/Syracuse (BLCA), are doing what they can to make sure that the word gets out to all of Syracuse.
“As a person of influence in the Black community,” The Rev. Chauncy Brown, president of the BLCA and pastor of True Vine Baptist Church, wrote in a letter to other churches in the area, “we are asking you to join us in encouraging Blacks across the United States and Territorial Areas to get educated, get tested, get involved and get treated around HIV/AIDS.”
Brown is hoping to get churches to commit to the fight against HIV/AIDS by addressing this issue in recently held services. The BLCA has helped develop a bulletin to be given out today with information on the disease and how to prevent it from spreading.
Participating churches will also alert attendees to free HIV/AIDS testing at the Onondaga County Health Department’s Clinic this coming Wednesday.
The free testing takes place from 9 to 11 a.m. and again from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the Onondaga County Health Department’s Clinic, located at 421 Montgomery St. Testing will be done on a first come first server basis.
For more information, visit Central New York Health System Agency’s Web site