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UNMC medical student Yemmi Smith is president of the UNMC Student National Medical Association. |
The Omaha/Lincoln area will hold its second annual observance of African American HIV/AIDS Awareness and Information Day Thursday, Feb. 6.
The observance will begin with a press conference at 10 a.m., at the Charles Drew Health Center, 2915 Grant St. Later, members of the UNMC Student National Medical Association (SNMA), including Oluyemisis Smith, a second-year medical student and UNMC’s SNMA president, will assist in AIDS education presentations in North Omaha. Additional activities are planned for Friday, Feb. 7.
HIV and AIDS continue to affect African Americans far out of proportion to their percentage of the general population, both nationally and in Nebraska, according to Steve Jackson, Nebraska Health and Human Services HIV Counseling/Testing and Minority Initiatives Coordinator.
While African Americans represent 4 percent of the state’s population, they represent 19 percent of AIDS cases and 25 percent of HIV cases.
Nationally, African Americans now have the highest rate of new infection and death from AIDS. Even more tragically, 50 percent of all new infections are diagnosed in African American women who contracted the disease through heterosexual sex.
The press conference will begin with Chris Rodgers, assistant to Mayor Mike Fahey, reading the Mayor’s proclamation, which dedicates Feb. 6 to education and knowledge about HIV/AIDS and compassion for People Living With AIDS (PLWA). Additional speakers will include Richard Brown, Ph.D., director of the Charles Drew Health Center, Tim Sullivan, executive director of the Nebraska AIDS Project, Jackson and Smith.
Schedule of activities
This year’s activities are as follows:
- Feb. 6 — All supporters of HIV/AIDS education and testing and People Living With AIDS (PLWA) are asked to drive with their car lights on from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
- Feb. 6 — Free Community Meal and Forum from 4 to 6 p.m. at Girls and Boy’s Club, 2616 Hamilton St. An estimated 300 to 400 community youth are expected to receive HIV/AIDS education sessions and refreshments. Participants will be divided into groups of 8-12 year olds, 13 and over, and adults. Youth will hear from PLWA’s and educators from Nebraska AIDS Project, Charles Drew Health Center and UNMC’s SNMA. Dr. Richard Brown and Robert Nelson of New York City will address the adults. Nelson has more than 10 years experience as an HIV/AIDS risk reduction specialist and has extensive work with prison inmates at New York’s Riker’s Island Detention Center.
- Feb. 6 — A prayer service dedicated to People Living With AIDS will be at 6:30 p.m. at Salem Baptist Church, 3131 Lake St. The service will include a moment of silence for deceased AIDS patients.
- Feb. 6 – Free, confidential anonymous HIV Testing at the Nebraska AIDS Project, 139 S. 40th St. from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
- Feb. 6 — Launching of “Shoes for a Thousand Feet in Ghana,” a collection drive of new or used (but in very-good-condition) shoes for orphan children and adult victims of AIDS in Ghana, West Africa. Shoe collection boxes will at UNMC, Charles Drew Health Center and other locations. Supporters are encouraged to collect shoes at their place of employment or in their neighborhoods. Contact UNMC’s Walter Brooks at 559-5768 for pick-up or more information.
- Feb. 7 — Free confidential HIV testing at the Nebraska AIDS Project, from 9 a.m. to noon. Same day test results will be available from 1 to 4 p.m. Call 552-9260 for more information.
- Feb. 7 — Free confidential HIV testing at Charles Drew Health Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Same day test results available approximately two hours after test. Call 453-1433 for more information.
Collecting shoes for needy children
The “Shoes for a Thousand Feet in Ghana” drive will be held from Feb. 6 to March 10, the end of the 20th Annual Balm of Gilead National Black Church Week of Prayer Against AIDS. The Omaha/Lincoln project is a local version of a shoe drive held last year by the Student National Medical Association. UNMC’s Community Academy Student Advisory Board, a health sciences enrichment program for teenagers, hand-decorated a number of boxes that will be used for shoe drops. Donated shoes should be new or in very good used condition and can be all sizes, all types and for all ages, although the emphasis is on shoes for needy children.
AIDS affects young
“The Centers for Disease Control (and Prevention) now reports that half of all new HIV infections in the United States are among people under 25,” said Oluyemisis “Yemi” Smith, UNMC’s SNMA president. “The majority of these young people were infected sexually, and apparently many were infected as teenagers.
“In response to this crisis, the Student National Medical Association created the HIV Intervention/Prevention Corps (HIP Corps). Our goal is to reduce the incidence of new HIV infection among underserved youth through effective, culturally sensitive HIV/AIDS prevention education and community outreach programs.”
SNMA also is seeking ways to strengthen university and medical college infrastructures to provide culturally competent HIV/AIDS education and community service opportunities for students, Smith said.