Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Dec. 8, 2005, edition 1 / Page 6
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6A NEWS/V^t CtirUnt Thursday, December 8, 2005 HW rate dimliing Continued from page 1A 25 years from a white homosexual male to a Uack heterosexual woman. Statistics have revealed that with startling numbers. While a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control show that PHV infections among African-Americans have decreased about 5 percent a ysar for the past three years, numbers are still along epidemic proportions, affecting African-American females dispropor tionately The report shows: Black wcanen accounted for 68 percent of new HIV infections between 2001 and 2004; Amcvig young women aged 13 to 24, African- Americans accounted for 68 percent of all infec tions through 2001, Among 13- to 19-yeeir-old giris, the black share o[ infections through 2001 climbed to 78 percent; 78 percent of Black female infections between 2001 and 2004 were throu^ sex with men. AIDS is the leading cause death for black wcHuen 25-34. Ihe rate of AIDS diagnosed for all African Americans in 2004 was almost 10 times the rate fcx* whites and almost three times the rate for Latinos. As of the end of last year, 200,000 African- Americans had died frx>m AIDS over the past 25 years, equivalent to an entire mid-size dty While contracting AIDS no longer brings the automatic death sentence it did when the dis ease frrst broke out into the public eye in 1980, extreme serious social, financial and psycholog ical consequences remain for its victims, fami lies and the communities they represent. Unless critically reduced, AIDS stands to cause serious cracks into the structure of the healthy African-American family on all leveb. In Dallas, there are individuals and organiza tions that have declared war on AIDS, fighting the spread of the disease with campaigns of accurate information, a number of social ser vices and peiiiaps most important of all — non judging and unconditional love. “We work with those statistics every day,” said Cheryl Edwards, founder of A Sister’s Gift, Dallas’ only outreach oiganization devoted sole ly to meeting the needs of women with HIV/AIDS. Speaking on a Dallas radio show, Edwards said that women of color — both African-American and Hispanic - now make up 74 percent of all AIDS cases. “That person with AIDS could be your church member, friend or co-worker,” Edwards said. ‘3ut they live anonymously a lot of times rejected by their parents and family” The driving force for Edwards founding A Sister’s Gift was watching her brother and close confidant, Rcxiald Lewis, die fixm AIDS in 1995. She vowed to assist AIDS victims as a gift - a sister’s gift - to her dying brother. Edwards’ organization offers a long list of services for HIV/AIDS-poeitive females at a confidential locatioTL “Moet of our clients are unable to woric,” , Edwards exiidained. “They're in moderate to poOT health. A large amount of them have small children at home ” Desiree testified on the invaluable assistance A Sister’s Gift has given her, not only providing financial support, but also one-on-one counsel ing, mentoring and seminars. “They've helped me at a time of desperate need,” Desiree said. “They remind me that Fm still a human being who has needs. There are times when I will fall too, but there’s someone there to pick me iq).” Such emotional provisions have proven to be just as important as anything tangible for infected black females or anybody who suffers through the strong stigma that still exists in many circles. Goldenberg could attest to that, speaking of interactions with her twin sister, especially when she lived in her house. “(When I ate) at her house, she threw that dish away,” Goldenberg recalled. ‘Thae were no words to help her know that she was not going to get AIDS. I lived upstairs; she would not come up for a year and a half” When men expressed an interest in Desiree, she told them up front of her condition. “They either think that I’m just so desperate to have somebody, because Fm positive, FU acc^ anything from any male that just wants me for sex,” Desiree said Desiree considers A Sister's Gift a godsend just as Goldenberg does of AIDS Services of Dallas, which provides housing, meals and transportation for people with HIV/AIDS. Goldenbeig lives in a three-bedroom unit inside an apartment complex owned by ASD, paying nominal rent based on her income. It has given her enou^ support to raise her two teenage grandchildxm, whom she took in 12 years ago Edwards, based on her experiences of coun seling and giving assistance to more than 200 female HIV/AIDS clients over the past two years, cxxitinues to hear horror stories about black female victims not attaining even the simplest of frmding for their needs. She says that m^or AIDS assistance frmding is still going in the old direction from a quarter of a century ago. CMS understands that each child is unique and excels in certain subjects or in specific types of learning environments. That is why CMS offers 14 magnet programs at 49 schools across Mecklenburg County that are geared to children's special talents or specific learning styles. We encourage you to come see what the magnet programs have to offer you and your family. MAGNET SCHOOLS FAIR December 10, 2005 • 9:00am - 1:00pm Phillip 0. Berry Academy of Technology 1430 Alleghany Street • Charlotte, NC 28208 For more information contact; CMS Magnet Programs 700 Marsh Road Charlotte, NC 28209 980.343.5030 ChariotMtoekltnburg School* Prepare for greatness www.cms.kl2.nc.us/magnets www.fittogethernc.org >go ^together North Carolina, it’s time to get Fit Together Linking North Carolinians to toots for healthier weight and lifestyles. Log on to FitTogetherNC.org today. Fit Together brings together people and proven ideas to help individuals and communities across North Carolina achieve healthy weight and healthier lifestyles. At FitTogetherNC.org, you’ll find toois to help you, your family and your community get fit and stay fit. You can also learn about success stories in other communities. FitTogetherNC.org also features an easy way to assess your health and your family’s. Plus, you can find local resources such as fitness programs, exercise facilities, and counseling on nutrition and healthcare. New Hanover County Robeson County The Triangle Asheville Salisbury Physical education is a priority again in public schools. Church groups are helping people shop smart and eat right. Workplace wellness The Farmers Market programs benefit both offers fresh and healthy employers and employees. eating choices. New sidewalks promote more physical activity in everyday life. NO INTERNET ACCESS? VISIT YOUR LOCAL PUBLIC LIBRARY. Wiiji I NOkTH CAROLINA , ^ ^ Health ^Wellness | BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina An Rtdependent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 8, 2005, edition 1
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