Press Release
JUNE 22nd, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
|
CONTACT: TIM O’CONNOR
PHONE: 561-671-4013
FAX:
561-837-5197
LORENZO ROBERTSON
561-722-8876 |
PALM BEACH
COUNTY, FL – HIV Test
Day is Saturday, June 27 and
serves to remind everyone
that this disease has not
gone away and that “It’s
Better to Know” your status
as a way of curbing the
spread.
In 2008 34,111 people in Palm Beach County were tested for
HIV/AIDS with 530 or 1.55%
of those tested being
positive. A disproportionate
number of those testing
positive, 377 were black
indicating that this
minority segment continues
to be adversely affected by
HIV/AIDS. The Palm Beach
County Caucus of Black
Elected Officials will
kick-off the weekends
testing activities with a
press conference at the Palm
Beach County Health
Department, Riviera Beach
Health Center, 7828 Gardens
Road at 10 am. The purpose
is to encourage all to be
tested for HIV and to create
awareness on ways to prevent
the spread of this deadly
disease.
Another awareness event takes place on Thursday, June 25 when
the book Silence is Death
Unleashed Voices, is
released. This book is an
anthology about HIV/AIDS in
Palm Beach County and
features images by award
winning photographer Ricc
Rollins. Stories were
accumulated over the past
several years from people
affected by the disease in
the county and are being
published for the first
time. Regional Minority AIDS
Coordinator Lorenzo
Robertson said, “We hope
this book will encourage
others to talk about
HIV/AIDS and through sharing
help to stop its spread in
the black population.”
During HIV Test Day a number of sites will be offering free
testing throughout the
county. Information can be
obtained by calling 211 or
the Health Department at
561-804-7600. Sites are also
available on line at
www.pbchd.com .
view
list of locations and dates
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