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Black Church Week Of Prayer For The Healing 0f AIDS Rally Churches To Stop
AIDS In African American Communities.
BAKERSFIELD NEWS OBSERVER
BAKERSFIELD, CA
02.21.01
Thousands of Churches and Organizations To Participate in 12th Annual National
Observance Sunday, March 4 - Saturday, March 10, 2001.
NEW YORK NY. -- The AIDS epidemic continues to paralyze Black America. Statistics
continue to rise among Black Americans at a faster rate than in other ethnic
groups. The rate of reported AIDS cases among 2 times greater than the rate
for Hispanics and 8 times greaterthan that for whites. Today, 50% of new
infections occur within the African American community. In response to this
horrendous epidemic, the Black church is taking an increasingly greater role
in AIDS prevention and education. This year more churches than ever before
will participate in the 12th AnnualBlack Church Week of Prayer for the Healing
of AIDS, beginning Sunday, March 4 -10, 2001.
Supporting this year's effort as spokespersons are Dr. Bobby Jones, BET Gospel
host; Rev. Gardner Taylor, renowned Baptist minister and Jessye Norman: opera
artist. Churches are participating through sermons, prayer, music and distribution
of HIV/AIDS preventionand treatment information. Churches who want to participate
in the Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS can call toil-free
1-888-225-6243 to request a free African American HI V/AIDS Resource Kit
for Churches.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in every
50 Black men is living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. For Black women,
the rate is one in 160. The disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS in Black
communities indicates that much more attention and resources must be given
to stopping the spread of AIDS and ensuring that African Americans infected
with HIV access treatment and quality health care.
"Churches are beginning to understand their unique strength and force
in stopping the spread of AIDS in the Black community," says Dr. Bobby
Jones, "The most significant partner in the African American community
in AIDS prevention and treatment education is the Black church."
The Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS seeks to mobilize churches
to become community centers for AIDS education and compassion. The program
has grown over the years to become the largest AIDS awareness program targeting
African Americans in the United States.
"The success of the Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS
in mobilizing churches to address HIV/AIDS is rooted in the cultural appropriateness
of the program," says Pernessa Seele, Founder/CEO of The Balm In Gilead,
"The program is based on traditional church revivals and community relationships
when people come together for a week of worship and to support each other
in their life's challenges regardless of what those trials are."
Many Black churches across the nation are assuming their leadership role in
the war against this epidemic and are communicating the importance of HIV
testing and treatment in their communities.
Churches are developing and are implementing AIDS ministries that include HIV
testing clinics, housing programs for people living with HIV and condom distribution
programs, "As we continue to see more and more churches get involved
in HIV prevention and treatment, we will begin to witness a decline in the
rate of infections among African American" Seele adds.
Glaxo Wellcome, a sponsor of The Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing
of AIDS is a research-based company whose people are committed to fighting
disease by bringing innovative medicine and services to patients throughout
the world and the healthcare providers who serve them. These medicines benefit
patients through improved health, longevity, and quality of life. Operations
of Glaxo Wellcome circle the globe and address a common purpose -- providing
innovative medicines that prevent and treat disease. True to that mission,
Glaxo Wellcome scientists and other employees are searching for new and better
treatments for a variety of diseases. Glaxo Wellcome is a pharmaceutical
industry leader in HIV research and therapies.
The Balm In Gilead is a national non-profit organization located in New York
City. The organization works to assist black churches tobecome community
centers for HIV/AIDS education and compassion. Through funding from the CDC
it operates the Black ChurchHIV/IAIDS National Technical Assistance Center,
which provides free assistance to churches, organizations and agencies that
seek toaddress AIDS among Black Americans. Every major Black church national
denomination and caucus endorses the Balm In Gilead. Formore information
on The Balm In Gilead, call 1-888-225.6243 or log on at www.balmingilead.org.
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