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The Department of Health’s HIV/STD/TB Program will host forums territorywide beginning March 8, 2011, on STD and HIV/AIDS in observance of National Women and Girls HIV/DAIDS Day.
The national observance, commemorated annually on March 10, is designed to raise awareness of the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls and encourage them to get tested among others.
The forums will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 8, 2011, at the Charlotte Kimelman Cancer Institute on St. Croix and on Friday, March 11, 2011, at the Cardiac Center’s Bennie and Martha Foundation Conference Center on St. Croix.
Health Commissioner Julia Sheen said that statistics show that more women have become infected with HIV since it was first reported in the early 1980s and that one in four Americans living with HIV are women today.
“We encourage organizations and individual advocates for women and girls as well as persons living with HIV/AIDS, to come listen to the guest presentations on topics such as Prevention of STDs; Living with HIV/AIDS; Contracting STDs, the Importance of having a Support System and the Need to Live Healthy,” Sheen said.
Martinez said that this year’s theme is “Live, Laugh and Liberate Yourself” and that the activities planned not only promise to be heartfelt and informative but support national initiatives in decreasing the number of women and girls who contract HIV/AIDS annually.
Participants are encouraged to register as space is limited by calling 340-774-0127 on St. Thomas and 340-773-1311 ext. 13061 on St. Croix. Residents requiring special accommodations should contact Rashida Francis at 340-774-900 ext. 4704.
For data and more information on National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day visit
http://www.womenshealth.gov/nwghaad or
http://www.womenshealth.gov/quickhealthdata. |
