Press Release
NOVEMBER 25th, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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CONTACT: TIM O’CONNOR
PHONE:561-355-3576
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PALM
BEACH COUNTY, FL – It has
been 20 years since the
World Health Organization
and the United Nations first
declared December 1 as World
AIDS Day. During that time
much has been done to create
awareness, save lives and
curtail the spread of the
disease. Locally the battle
continues.
Some of my first work in
public health was treating
children infected with AIDS
contracted at birth,” said
Palm Beach County Health
Department Director Jean M.
Malecki, M.D. “In the 80’s
it was heart wrenching to
treat the symptoms knowing
that child would not
survive. We’ve come a long
way yet more needs to be
done.”
Currently, less than 1% of
the People living with AIDS
or HIV are under the age of
five. The adult population
however, continues to
increase. Since January 2008
393 new HIV infections were
diagnosed, a 50% increase
over 2007 and 224 AIDS Cases
were diagnosed, a 31%
increase over 2007. The
cumulative total of people
living with HIV/AIDS in the
county is now 7,568 and it
is estimated that number
would be 20% greater if more
people were tested.
A number of activities and
testing sites are planned
for the days leading up to
and after World AIDS Day.
These include:
-
November 29, 2008
United Deliverance
Community Resource
Center, Inc.
Annual World AIDS Day
Play and Awareness Event
Gaines Park
1501 North Australian
Avenue
West Palm Beach, FL
-
November 30, 2008
Annual Motorcycle Ride
for Life
Pioneer Park
866 State Road 715
Belle Glade, FL
-
December 1, 2008
Lights in the Community
World AIDS Day Luncheon
St. John Baptist Church
600 SW 8th Street
Belle Glade, FL
12:00 PM. – 2:00 PM
-
December 2, 2008
Candle Light Ceremony
St. James A.M.E. Church
465 S. Lake Avenue
Pahokee, FL
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December 4, 2008
Dolly Hand Candle Light
Ceremony & Candle Light
Walk
1977 College Drive
Belle Glade, FL
-
December 6, 2008
Skate-A-Thon
Atlantis Skating Rink
Lake Worth, FL
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
-
December 11, 2008
Family Unity Against
HIV/AIDS Providers
Conference
Glades General Hospital
Main Street
Belle Glade, FL
Session I – 8:30 AM –
10:30 AM
Session II – 2:00 PM –
5:00 PM
Information can be
obtained by calling the
Palm Beach County Health
Department at
561-804-7900 or through
the web
www.pbchd.com
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