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Thousands of Churches And
Organizations To 12th Annual National Observance
Kansas City CALL
Kansas City, MO
02.16.01
NEW YORK, N.Y. - In response
to the AIDS epidemic that continues to paralyze black America, this year
more churches than ever will participate in the 12th Annual Black Church
Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS, being held March 4 - 10.
Statistics continue to rise among black Americans at a faster rate than in
other ethnic groups. Today, 50 percent of new infections occur within the
African American community.
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 communicatingthe 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.
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