Detroit Health Department To Increase Outreach Of Black AIDS Awareness

 



 
Detroit and southeastern Michigan have the largest number of HIV/AIDS
cases in Michigan.  In an effort to raise awareness of AIDS in the black
community, the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion
(DHWP) will increase its focus on AIDS education, referrals, and testing
from now through March 15.

In July 2009, the Michigan Department of Community Health identified
9,206 cases of HIV/AIDS in southeastern Michigan, with 5,513 or 59% of
those cases found in the city of Detroit.  Of the HIV/AIDS cases in
Detroit, 88% are among African Americans. 

The AIDS awareness programs and services are a partnership between
DHWP, the Detroit Recovery Project, the Detroit Community Health
Connection, and Wayne County Community College District.

DHWP will also provide prevention education, referral services and HIV
testing in its Mobile Clinic in the parking lot of Wayne County
Community College District campuses from 9 a.m.to 2 p.m., with testing
beginning at 10 a.m.  The schedule is as follows:
 
Tuesday, February 16 – Downtown Campus, 1001 West Fort Street
Thursday, February 18 – Northwest Campus, 8200 West Outer Drive
Wednesday, February 24 – Eastern Campus, 5901 Conner Street
 
Additional activities, including the distribution of individual
HIV/AIDS test kits are planned pending the approval a mini-grant from
the Michigan Department of Community Health.

MEDIA CONTACT:     Michael Mcelrath  (313) 876-4274