Sexually Transmitted Diseases Committee: Syphilis and HIV/AIDS
Action Plan
The HIV/STD Community Advisory Council has a very diverse membership with a large grassroots-community member base. The group focuses on strategies to prevent the spread of syphilis and HIV/AIDS, which disproportionately impacts the minority community, particularly women of childbearing age and college students.
World AIDS Day Durham 2006
Durham Herald-Sun Covers World Aids Day
World AIDS Day Durham 2006 was a very moving and exciting event! Over 300 people attended this year's event at the Durham Armory downtown.
The event began with a march through downtown Durham. After that the crowd enjoyed refreshments courtesy of Texas Roadhouse, PET Ice Cream, and Coca-Cola. Local churches and restaurants also donated desserts.
Tisha Powell of ABC11 Eyewitness News hosted the program. She first introduced Ellen Reckhow, Chair of the Durham Board of County Commissioners, who spoke about new guidelines around HIV testing, and encouraged the crowd to hold elected leaders accountable to their promises to stop AIDS by 2015 (referring to the Millennium Development Goals).
Next, Cora Cole-McFadden, Mayor Pro-Tem and City Council member, spoke about some of the statistics describing the HIV/AIDS epidemic around the world and here in Durham. She highlighted some of the disparities in HIV infection. She spoke directly to the young people in the audience, asking them to stand and promise to protect themselves against HIV.
Brian Letourneau, Director of the Durham County Health Department, then urged those present not to be complacent about HIV/AIDS, despite the progress in treatments. It's still a deadly disease that we cannot cure, but we can prevent.
Tisha Powell then recognized the youth groups who are a large part of the World AIDS Day Durham event. Selena Monk of the Health Department's Health Education Division described their activities, such as making banners during educational sessions to decorate the Durham Armory for World AIDS Day. Tisha then called out the youth groups one by one, including groups from:
- Whitaker School
- Durham School of the Arts
- Hillside High School
- Girl Scout Troop # 412
- Girl Scout Troop #1496
- TEAS
- JAC GLEANER Youth Branch#15
- ME Covington Gleaner Youth Branch
- St. Joseph's Youth Group
- Jovenes Líderes en Acción from El Centro Hispaño
Three people then told the crowd about their personal experiences living with HIV/AIDS, or having infected loved ones. Their message encouraged people to get tested, seek support, and be vigilant against the virus. Their very moving personal stories reminded the crowd of the human toll of the disease.
Rev. Shane Benjamin, of Asbury Temple UMC, then offered words of reflection, remembrance, and hope. He mentioned that World AIDS Day falls at the beginning of the church calendar, which starts in the month before Christmas. A new year is an opportunity for renewing the fight against the epidemic.
Genevieve Ankeny, of the Duke Health Inequalities Program, then read aloud a petition that circulated among the attendees, asking our US Senators to renew funding for HIV treatment programs.
After the program, many of the youth groups stayed on for a performance from Que Rico, a salsa dance group from UNC Chapel Hill. The event concluded with a DJ and a dance for the young people, in celebration of what we've accomplished fighting HIV/AIDS, and preparing ourselves for another year of prevention and treatment.
HIV Testing Day
The HIV/STD Community Advisory Council participated in national HIV testing on Tuesday, June 27th. This collaborative event included HIV and syphilis testing, counseling, and education services. Council agencies that participated were CAARE, Inc, El Centro Hispano, and AIDS Alliance Services of the Carolinas, Project STYLE, and the Durham County Health Department. It was a great success - many people came to the event, and 108 people decided to get tested there. This is a significant accomplishment for the Council, as one of their objectives is to have more Durham residents know their HIV and STD status.
Upcoming HIV/STD Community Advisory Council events include a community march and rally on October 8, and World AIDS Day at the Durham Armory on December 1.
Standing Meetings
We meet on the Last Wednesday of each month, 11:30-1:30 at the Health Department.Meetings in 2008:
- January 30
- February 27
- March 26
- April 30
- May 28
- June 25
- July 30
- August 27
- September 24
- October 29
- November 26