Oakland Mayor Proclaims March 10th Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

WORLD
Women Organized to Respond to Life-threatening Diseases

CONTACT: Bridget Hughes: [email protected], 510-986-0340 x 310
Naina Khanna: [email protected], 510-986-0340 x316

PRESS ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 5, 2010

MAYOR DELLUMS PROCLAIMS MARCH 10 AS
WOMEN AND GIRLS HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY IN OAKLAND

WORLD lauded for its diligent work in Oakland community to uplift women living with and vulnerable to HIV and for their efforts to eradicate the disease.

WHAT: In recognition of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, WORLD will be hosting an open community educational forum, HIV Right Here At Home.
WORLD is also launching its new website, www.WomenHIV.org on March 10th to facilitate connections among HIV-positive women, their families, allies and communities.

WHERE: Abyssinian Baptist Church, 528-33rd Street in Oakland, near Telegraph Avenue.

WHEN: 6:00 to 8:00 pm on Wednesday, March 10th.

WHY: Every 33 minutes in the U.S. a woman or girl hears the words, “Ms. , your test is positive. You have HIV.” Today, 1 in 4 Americans living with HIV are women. In Alameda County 18% of all people living with AIDS as of December 31, 2004 were women, and 26% of new AIDS cases diagnosed in calendar year 2004 were among women. Despite decreasing incidence among many populations, the number of female AIDS cases in Alameda County has steadily increased throughout the years, with a disproportionate impact on women of color. 68% of all women living with AIDS in Alameda County as of December 31, 2004 were African American, while Latinas made up 11% of all women living with AIDS in the region. Nationally, AIDS is still the leading cause of death among African-American women ages 25-34.

Mayor Dellums stated, “It is imperative that we understand where we are in terms of HIV/AIDS and women. The rates of HIV/AIDS in women of color continues to climb, and we now know that AIDS is still the leading cause of death nationally among African American women ages 25-34 and the fourth leading cause of death in Latino women ages 35-44. By working together with organizations like WORLD in Oakland, we can help to educate and provide the needed support for women affected by the disease. I am proud to know that WORLD is diligently working in our community to uplift and uphold women and I fully support their efforts to eradicate the disease.”

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Women Organized to Respond to Life-threatening Diseases (WORLD) is a diverse, Oakland-based organization for, by, and about women living with, and vulnerable to, HIV. Founded in 1991, WORLD is a national leader connecting HIV-positive women and their loved ones to one another through peer-based education, support, advocacy, and leadership development.