Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PRNewswire - November 30, 2006
NEW YORK, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Twenty HIV positive Hispanic and African American women from the Bronx will give their time building AIDS Caregiver Kits for international distribution and will receive new outfits for themselves at Tavern on the Green on World AIDS Day, December 1. HIV positive mother, Diana Figueroa, will speak at the event about her personal struggle and leadership of women with HIV.
Within New York City, HIV diagnosis rates and death rates due to AIDS are among the highest in the Bronx. Nearly one in four HIV diagnoses in the city are in foreign-born people, with the Caribbean accounting for the majority with 37% followed by Africans with 21%. Around the world, AIDS is devastating communities of more than 15 million children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS; more than three million people die of AIDS each year. In honor of World AIDS Day, World Vision and the International AIDS Trust are bringing needed attention to the disease -- and those who suffer from it -- by addressing global AIDS issues regarding women and children and the HIV/AIDS situation in the Bronx.
AIDS Caregiver Kits
World Vision has launched a first-of-its-kind program to put 1 million AIDS kits into the hands of volunteer AIDS caregivers in 17 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America over the next three years. Costing approximately $25 and containing basic necessities like antifungal cream, latex gloves, flashlights, and soap, the Caregiver Kits will be assembled by the guests, including some who are HIV positive, for AIDS devastated communities in the Dominican Republic and Africa.
Clothing Boutique for HIV Positive Women
The women from the Bronx will be outfitted with new dresses, shoes and accessories by the women guests with clothing from the World Vision New York Storehouse.
"The clothing boutiques are a way for women with HIV and AIDS to not only receive outfits that would be hard for them to come by but also to help boost their self confidence," said Luis Jimenez, Executive Director of the World Vision Storehouse in the Bronx.
Diana Figueroa, an HIV positive Hispanic mother of two from the Bronx, attended HIV University through WORLD, an organization of women that educates women with HIV/AIDS and promotes public awareness. Through her training, she empowers and educates women on issues from talking to their doctors and reading their blood work to staying healthy physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Available for Interviews
The Caregiver Kits and Clothing Boutique will take place from 10:15 - 11:45 am. Ms. Figueroa will speak at 12:40 pm. Both she and her teenage daughter, who can share her experience of living with her mother's struggle with HIV, are both available for interviews. Other HIV positive women will also be available. Detailed speakers' program available upon request.
Location: Tavern on the Green
Central Park West at West 67th Street | New York, NY 10001 | (212) 873-3200
About World Vision
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision serves the poor regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit http://www.worldvision.org.
About International AIDS Trust
The International AIDS Trust (IAT) was established to create strategic opportunities for galvanizing leadership, mobilizing resources, and promoting effective interventions in the global battle against AIDS. Its principals shaped the expanded US Government's response to this pandemic and now bring the same energy and skill to this not-for-profit venture.
SOURCE World Vision
http://www.worldvision.org
061130
PR061148
Copyright © 2006 - PRNewswire. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through PRNewswire, Permissions, 810 Seventh Ave., 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10019 http://www.prnewswire.com.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2006. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2006. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .