The sixth annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is Feb. 7, but a week’s worth of HIV/AIDS-related educational activities are planned in Omaha. AIDS activists and supporters in the Nebraska African American community began their own observances of the national day four years ago. This year’s activities run from Feb. 4 -10.
“Each year, we get more support and interest in responding to this deadly disease,” said Sherri Nared, HIV/AIDS counselor-trainer for the Douglas County Health Department, and chairperson of the 2006 committee of Nebraska activists who gather to coordinate planned activities and create a united front for the week.
“No single agency or group is responsible, and we look to the continued input and collaboration from individuals, as well as representatives from churches, and numerous agencies and community groups,” she said.
These include: UNMC, Douglas County Health Department, Nebraska AIDS Project, Charles Drew Health Center, Blacks Working with AIDS, Access Medicaid, Nebraska Heath and Human Services, Blue Cross-Blue Shield, North Omaha Community Care Council, Allen Chapel A.M.E., Visiting Nurses Association and Love’s Jazz and Art Center.
The Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church, 2842 Monroe St., is sponsoring an art contest for students 18 and under. Entries must be completed and delivered to the church no later than noon, Saturday, Feb. 4. Entries may be black and white or full color original works using illustration, photography, fine art painting or mixed media. Entries must be no larger than 36 inches by 24 inches.
Entries will be judged at Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church on Feb. 5. Winners will be announced on Feb. 7. First-, second- and third-place entrees will receive $25, $15 and $10 respectively and ribbons. The top 10 entries will be featured in a special showcase from Feb. 7-12 at the church. For more information about the art contest, contact Lisa Jones at 734-3399 or babylmjay2@hotmail.com or lovelylmjay@yahoo.com.
Hered is the line-up of activities for Nebraska’s 2006 African American Day of Awareness for HIV/AIDS:
- Saturday, Feb. 4, from 4 to 8 p.m. – Blacks Working With AIDS, Inc. sponsors “Buffet & Movie Kick-Off to African American AIDS Awareness Day in Nebraska.” Event features buffet meal and screening of hit African American AIDS dramatic feature film, “One Week;” presentations by L.C Menyweather-Woods, instructor, UNO Black Studies Department; and Father Robert Dundon, pastor, St. Benedict the Moor Church. Open to the public, tickets are $20 person. Will be at InPlay Omaha Banquet and Conference Center, 1502 Cuming St. For more information, contact Karen Nnawulezi at 827-3780 or Walter Brooks at 888-2642.
- Sunday, Feb. 5 – Local churches will announce and promote upcoming week of activities.
- Monday, Feb. 6 – Nebraska AIDS Project sponsors free HIV testing and STD screening from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Urban League Family Service Center, 3040 Lake St.
- Monday, Feb. 6 – Free HIV tests available at the Charles Drew Health Center, 2915 Grant St., from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, Feb. 7 – Free HIV tests available at the Charles Drew Health Center from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, Feb. 7 – “HIV and African American Youth” presentation at Butler Gast YMCA Teen Center, 4344 N. 34th Street, from 4 to 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, Feb. 7 – Community Discussion on “Sex and the City: Why Us?” at the Love’s Jazz and Art Center, 2510 N. 24th St., from 6 to 8:30 pm. Program features introduction by Adi Pour, executive director of Douglas County Health Department; mayor’s proclamation; STD video presentation and update on AIDS in Nebraska; personal testimony by people living with HIV and AIDS; open discussion. Call 502-5291 for more information.
- Wednesday, Feb. 8 – Douglas County Health Department sponsors free HIV and STD testing at Youth Emergency Services (YES), 2057 Harney Ave.
- Thursday, Feb. 9 – Social event to be announced.
- Friday, Feb. 10 – Nebraska AIDS Project sponsors free HIV testing at central office, 139 S. 40th St., from 5 to 10 p.m.
“All of the above activities are directed at the primary theme of the annual day of awareness – ‘get educated, get tested, get treated, get involved,’ ” Nared said. “African Americans are barely 5 percent of the population of Nebraska but we now represent almost 25 percent of the total number of AIDS cases.
“In addition, the on-going STD epidemic in North Omaha means that we can expect the HIV-positive population to grow because AIDS traditionally trails outbreaks of the sexually transmitted diseases, plus having an STD makes a person many times more susceptible to catching the HIV virus.”
Nared encouraged the community to attend the activities and consider getting a free testing. “There’s no substitute for knowing your own status,” she said. “We owe that to our loved ones. We owe it to ourselves.”
For more information about the entire week of activities, contact Nared at 444-7750 and Jacque Cook at 510-9979.