Stemming the tide of infection- Event raises awareness about HIV-AIDS prevention

Stemming the tide of infection: online loans for christmas Event raises awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention

By Zoe Sullivan

Contributing Writer

In 2008, New Orleans had the third-highest rate of new HIV diagnoses of any city in the nation, according to the Center for Disease Control. Baton Rouge had the second-highest rate, and Miami topped the list. This shocking statistic becomes worse when one looks at how the infection is affecting women of color. According to HIV411.org, 75 percent of the new cases of HIV diagnosed in Louisiana were among African-Americans. Just over one-third of all new cases were found in women, and 83 percent of these women were Black.

To combat these statistics, the Institute of Women & Ethnic Studies (IWES) held its 2nd annual National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Red Tent Event at the cash advance punta gorda fl McKenna Museum of African-American Art recently. Over 300 people attended the event on a cloudless day. A brass band raised spirits and local poet, Asia Rainey, read original works about the fear associated with a positive HIV diagnosis.

According to Jennifer Glick, IWES HIV Program Manager, the Red Tent events started after Katrina as “a response to the post-traumatic stress disorder and all of the trauma happening from the disaster. So we started creating these holistic wellness events to meet…the multitude of needs of women. So when National Women & Girls HIV/AIDs Awareness day came around, it just made a lot of sense to use that…as a way to raise awareness about how HIV and AIDS are affecting the community.” Professor Karen De Salvo, New Orleans’ Health Commis­sioner, told The mojo installment loans Louisiana Weekly “HIV and AIDS is a major public health issue for women, with African-American and Latino populations suffering disproportionately.”

Activities were spread throughout the museum and around its backyard.  Lining the edges of the yard were a series of booths with different fun and educational activities, including demonstrations on how to use a condom. Attendees could enjoy everything from henna tattoos to  a silk screening booth for people to make an HIV/AIDS awareness t-shirt.  Yoga, acupuncture, blood pressure screenings, and free, confidential HIV testing were also available. Demonstrating the need for similar services, Glick said that the HIV tests were so popular that the supply actually ran out.

A slight Mimi Davis sat at the silk screening table. She said a woman had given her a flier about the cash advance taylor michigan event and that drew her out for her first visit to the museum and the awareness event. Davis has a two-year-old daughter, and said that educating herself so that she can keep her child safe was her main interest. “I gotta be very careful with her…Me being a diabetic, it makes it worse for me.”

McKenna Museum curator Jennifer Williams bubbled with enthusiasm about the event. “Espe­cially considering the HIV/AIDS rates in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Louisiana, I think it’s needed. I think we should have more events like this,” Williams also felt that the museum’s beautiful art and spacious outdoor area made the partnership a good fit, and that the food and activities provided made the event appealing.

Since the Institute of Women & Ethnic Studies works was ist cash in advance for wellness from a holistic perspective, booths included everything from the Housing Authority of New Orleans to hand-made bath products from the locally-owned Sénica Natural. One exhibit was called “Crowns of Glory.” A row of decorated fedoras was set out to “honor African-American women living with or who died from HIV/AIDS.” One hat sported yellow flowers while another had been embellished with tiny rivets in the shape of a heart.

Rheneisha Robertson is the executive director of IWES. She says that health “isn’t just the absence of disease, but really the complete mental, physical, emotional health and wellness of a community.” For this reason, Robertson says, IWES works with women and their families on promoting healthy life choices. In addition to the organization’s work on raising awareness around HIV/AIDS saint george personal loan calculator prevention, it also carries out sexual and reproductive health advocacy to help people access health resources for their communities. The third area of focus is mental health and well-being, a need that became apparent in the aftermath of Katrina, Robertson says.

IWES wasn’t the only health-focused organization at the event.  Planned Parenthood provided information about its services to help prevent sexually transmitted diseases and Common Ground Community Health Clinic had brochures on healthcare resources available in New Orleans.

Sonia Parker, a student at Tulane University, volunteered at the event last year and enjoyed it so much that she wanted to help again.  “The fact that it’s reaching out to citizens in the community and a broader sense of people in New Orleans, I think speaks volumes to how effective the work is.”