ALEXANDRIA, VA– The City of Alexandria will host a National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Symposium on February 10, from 8 a.m. to noon, at the Alleyne AME Zion Church (1419 King St.). The event will examine the role the community can play in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS and reducing its stigma among African Americans. There will be free HIV testing, courtesy of Nova Salud, Inc. The Symposium is free and open to the public, but attendees are asked to register online.
African Americans have the highest rates of HIV infection in the United States. As of 2015, African Americans represented 12 percent of the U.S. population but accounted for 45 percent (17,670) of HIV diagnoses. Currently, Alexandria has the fifth highest HIV infection rate in Virginia.
This year, February 7 marks National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, an initiative aimed at increasing HIV education, testing, community involvement, and treatment in response to the growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in African American communities. The observance encourages people to “Get Educated. Get Involved. Get Tested. Get Treated.”
To register for the Symposium or learn more about National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and the Alexandria Health Department’s Rainbow Tuesdays Clinic and HIV Testing Services, visit alexandriava.gov/Health.
