February 4th, is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in the United States, an effort by a coalition of national organizations to stem the spread of the disease in the African-American community.
Health officials say every hour, seven Americans are infected with the AIDS virus, HIV, and three out of the seven are African-American. Organizers of the awareness day say while African-Americans make up thirteen percent of the US population, they represent fifty-two percent of persons diagnosed with HIV. Also, black children under age thirteen represent almost two-thirds of all reported pediatric cases in the United States.
One group involved in HIV/AIDS awareness programs in the Washington area is the DC Care Consortium. The group’s director, Lourmel Apollon, spoke to English to Africa reporter Joe De Capua about National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
Click above links to download or listen to interview.