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Yours in the struggle
PETROCHEMNET (HOUSTON, TX) (WWW)
10/03/2001
Source Website: http://www.petrochem.net
Source: Essence
Black women who are making a difference in the fight against HIV/ AIDS
To mark the twentieth anniversary of the first HIV diagnosis, the African
American AIDS Policy and Training Institute (AAAPTI), a California-based think
tank and advocacy organization, will honor 20 Black women and men fighting to
end this epidemic. Here ESSENCE salutes 20 of the most outstanding sisters leading
the war on HIV/ AIDS.
The Facilitators
Debra Fraser-Howze is the founder, president and CEO of the National Black
Leadership Commission on AIDS (BLCA). Launched in 1987, BLCA is the largest HIV/AIDS
nonprofit and advocacy group for Blacks in the country. As the director of the
health division for the NAACP, Caya B. Lewis, M.P.H., has served on the Presidential
Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. She has helped initiate needleexchange policies
in the United States and Africa. Now more than 150 NAACP health committees provide
communities with information because of her education outreach efforts.
The Legislators
In addition to organizing prevention efforts in her district, Congresswoman
Maxine Waters pushed in Washington, D.C., to make the illness a national emergency
in the Black community The result? The Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative, a program
that supports prevention, education and treatment services with funds that will
reach more than $325 million this year. Congressional Black Caucus's Health Braintrust
chair, U.S. Rep. Donna Christian-Christensen, also helped bring the Minority HIV/AIDS
Initiative to Congress in 1998. She has collaborated with other minority congressional
groups to get the federal government to fund further research and services in
communities of people of color. Another congressional player in the Minority HIV/AIDS
Initiative development was Fredette West. Now, as the founder and CEO of FDWest
Network Associates in Dunkirk, Maryland, she continues to advocate and develop
health policies to end the disparities in minority health care.
The Fact Keeper
Helene Gayle, M.D., M.P.H., the director of the National Center for HIV, STD
and TB Prevention in Atlanta, helps create public- health programs based on the
statistics the organization tracks. These numbers don't just affect health services
in the States but extend to global communities as well.
The Missionary
Pernessa Seele opened The Balm in Gilead after seeing that [Black churches]
were still in denial about the disease. Since 1989 her organization has helped
ministries become more open about AIDS education and outreach in the pulpit. The
Community Pillars Outreach, Inc., the first minority AIDS awareness and prevention
program in Georgia, was started by Sandra S. McDonald. She AIDS at least 5,000
people with HIV through the program's educational and emotional-- support services.
Diana Williamson, M.D., M.Sc., is the cofounder and medical director of AAAPTI.
And she created the Crossroads Medical Center in Brooklyn, where she is also director.
This facility has HIV primary care, research, emergency and permanent housing,
and community and patient-- education services in one central location.
Mpule Kwelagobe has the ear of her nation when she speaks about the disease.
As Miss Universe 1999, Kwelagobe opened the dialogue between her people and the
public officials of Botswana, which has the largest HIV/AIDS population in the
world. Today she is helping to lead prevention efforts as the United Nations Population
Fund Goodwill Ambassador for Botswana.
The Teachers
Gail E. Wyatt, Ph.D., is a psychologist, professor, author and associate director
for behavioral science, education and treatment for the UCLA AIDS Institute. An
expert on the impact of HIV on women and youth, Wyatt speaks about it nationally.
Although she has retired as a medical professor, former surgeon general Joycelyn
Elders, M.D., still speaks candidly about the crisis and its effect on our youth.
She is an outspoken critic on what health and community leaders really need to
do about preventing HIV numbers from growing and how the [Black church] should
teach responsible sexual behavior as well as abstinence.
The Survivors
After losing her daughter and husband to AIDS, Mercy Makhalemele didn't let
this disease, which also sits restless in her body, quiet her strong voice in
South Africa. She won honors last June from the United Nations Special Session
on HIV/AIDS for her efforts.
Belynda Dunn of the AIDS Action Committee in Boston made headlines last July
when she sued her HMO for denying her an emergency liver transplant because of
her health status-an HIV-- positive woman with hepatitis C. Before a court decision
was made, the mayor of Boston, Thomas M. Menino, set up a fund to contribute to
the cost of her surgery. Her HMO even donated $100,000. Hydeia L. Broadbent has
been vocal about AIDS since she was 6. Now 17, she is the spokesperson for the
Hydeia L. Broadbent Foundation and travels globally to tell people what it's like
living with AIDS. She has helped create the foundation's Hope Campaign in an effort
to urge more people to get tested and modify high-risk behavior. The Hope Telethon
will air next spring in the United States, Africa and South America. In 1994 Rae
Lewis-Thornton gave AIDS an image that Black America was not prepared to see-an
educated, drug-free and monogamous heterosexual young woman. Seven years after
her ESSENCE cover story, Lewis-Thornton still shares her tale with audiences,
especially teens. (She contracted HIV at 23 through unprotected sex.)
Rev. Dr. Yvette Flunder, M.A., D. Min., started the Ark of Refuge, Inc., to
provide HIV-infected people with housing, education and health services in the
Bay Area.
The Artists
Mary J. Blige knows her power-it's in her music and her image. Through this
power she energetically helps to raise money for the MAC Cosmetics AIDS Fund.
In her first year as spokesperson for the company's Viva Glam III lipsticks, Mary
was involved with raising $4 million for people living with the condition. The
award-winning actress Whoopi Goldberg does not rehearse for her part as a humanitarian.
Because of her commitment to work with the disease and other health and humanrights
issues, she was named the Goodwill Ambassador for the American Health Foundation.
Actress Sheryl Lee Ralph is a diva in the best sense. She is the founder, producer
and host of Divas Simply Singing, an annual celeb event that helps fund Caring
for Babies With AIDS and Project Angel Food, a group that provides free meals
to patients in Los Angeles. She has put on this event for 11 years.
Copyright Essence Communications, Inc. Oct 2001
(C) 2001, YellowBrix, Inc.
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