Taking A Stand
African Americans are being confronted by the HIV/AIDS virus in disproportionate numbers, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. AIDS is the number one killer of African American men ages 25 to 44 and the number one killer of African American women ages 15 to 44. While African Americans make up approximately 12.7% of the entire U.S. population, we are 45% of the 56,300 people who are newly infected with HIV each year, 50% of those living with AIDS and 50% of those who die from AIDS each year.
African American children account for 58% of pediatric AIDS cases in the United States. There are fewer HIV-positive people in seven of the 15 target countries of the Global AIDS Initiative than there are HIV-positive African Americans here at home.
The question becomes what do we do about it?
In America, HIV/AIDS is a direct result of personal behavior -- sexual and intravenous drug use. It is completely preventable.
Egiebor Expressions has joined the fight to end HIV/AIDS.
- In 2009, Egiebor Expressions contracted with a Dallas-area network to help build capacity and inspire HIV positive women by teaching business and writing techniques.
- In 2008, Egiebor Expressions traveled to Mexico City, for the International AIDS Conference, where Sharon took the help of the Web presence for the Black AIDS Institute. She created and sent out daily e-blasts, coordinated You-Tube videos and posted articles on a daily blog.
- In 2006, Egiebor Expressions was project manager for the Black AIDS Institute's Drumbeat Project. The talented group of journalists from across the nation traveled to Toronto, Canada for the XVI International AIDS Conference, where they produced a daily newsletter.
- In 2005, Sharon Egiebor reported from the CDC HIV Prevention Conference in Atlanta, Ga., and participated in a 10-day, three-country tour of South Africa, visiting new clinics for children, hospice centers and a woman's shelter.
- In 2004, Egiebor Expressions teamed with community organizations to produce Lean Back, Get Focused: A Community Conversation on HIV/AIDS in Young Adults.
- Sharon Egiebor attended the 2004 International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand, reporting for Black AIDS Institute.
- In 2003, we helped organize a Town Hall Meeting in Dallas with Danny Glover as the keynote speaker and a Salute to The Black Press, where Sheryl Lee Ralph discussed the need for the media to get involved.
Campaign to Fight HIV/AIDS
|
|
|
|
