AEGiS-PRn: Faith, Civic, and Public Health Leaders Come Together in the Mid-South as a Model for the Nation in Observance of World AIDS Day

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Faith, Civic, and Public Health Leaders Come Together in the Mid-South as a Model for the Nation in Observance of World AIDS Day

PRNewswire - December 1, 2006

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- During a community prayer breakfast in observance of World AIDS Day 2006, the National Coalition of Pastors' Spouses (NCPS) and Friends For Life, Corp., issued a Call to Action to fellow faith leaders from across the Mid-South asking them to increase their involvement in the fight against HIV/AIDS by discussing the disproportionate impact it has on the African American community and to harness the power of faith communities to educate people about the epidemic. More than 20 organizations representing faith, civic, and public health leadership from throughout the Mid-South sponsored this important Call to Action.

"It makes perfect sense for our faith leaders to present HIV prevention, testing, and treatment messages to women at risk because those women are the ones in the pews on Sundays," said National Coalition of Pastors' Spouses President Vivian Berryhill.

There is a need for additional leadership to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in the South, particularly in the African American community. In Mississippi and Tennessee, African Americans make up 72.7 percent and 52.3 percent respectively, of people estimated to be living with AIDS. Although they comprise only 13% of the U.S. population, African Americans now make up 50% of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses and are the leading cause of death for African American women aged 25-34.

Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, said "The South has more people living with AIDS than any other region in the United States. But we can do something about that. Get tested, practice prevention, and get into treatment if you have HIV."

Also participating in today's prayer breakfast with Ms. Berryhill and Dr. Fenton were Dr. Deborah Parham Hopson, director of the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act program and Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, president of the Council of Bishops for the African American Episcopal (AME) Church.

For more information on World AIDS Day in the Tri-State Region please visit http://www.WorldAIDSDay2006.org.

CONTACT: Devona Springer, +1-202-862-1149, for The National Coalition of Pastors' Spouses and Friends For Life, Corp.

SOURCE The National Coalition of Pastors' Spouses; Friends For Life, Corp.

http://www.WorldAIDSDay2006.org

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