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Susan Swindells, M.B.B.S. | The Rev. Bryan Massengale |
The events, which are all open to the public, include several free health screenings for HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, a performance by a nationally-recognized hip hop artist, and a presentation featuring an African American priest and the director of UNMC’s HIV/AIDS program. In addition, free movie passes and free roller skating will be offered to participants at two of the events.
Almost 95 percent of the people living with HIV/AIDS live in developing nations, but developed nations face advancing infection rates, especially among minority populations, such as African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans in the U.S.
Today HIV/AIDS is a global threat to all men, women and children. An estimated 39.4 million people worldwide are living with HIV. More than 20 million have died of AIDS since 1981. With approximately 35,000 to 40,000 new infections every year in the U.S., there are now an estimated 1.1 million Americans living with HIV/AIDS.
World AIDS Day, which is Dec. 1, is not just about raising money, but also about increasing awareness, education and fighting prejudice. World AIDS Day is important in reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.
For many years, World AIDS Day was organized by UNAIDS, the joint United Nations program on HIV/AIDS. However, in 2005, UNAIDS handed over responsibility for World AIDS Day to an independent organization known as the World AIDS Campaign (WAC).
The WAC’s theme for their campaign is “Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise.” It will also remain the focus until 2010. “Keep the Promise” is an appeal to governments and policy makers to ensure they meet the targets they have agreed to in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
The schedule of events in the Omaha-Lincoln area includes:
- Wednesday, Nov. 29, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., free HIV testing at the RESPECT Clinic in the UNMC Community Health Clinic, 5155 S. 36th St.
- Thursday, Nov. 30, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., free HIV and STD testing at the Urban League Family Resource Center, 3040 Lake St. This event will feature a live remote by Hot 107.7 FM radio station from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., and free movie passes for the first 50 people tested. Contact Mark Patten at 552-9260.
- Friday, Dec. 1, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., free HIV/STD testing at Charles Drew Health Center, 2915 Grant St. Contact Jacque Cook at 453-1208.
- Friday, Dec. 1, 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., free Youth Summit Meeting at Hope Skate Center, 2209 N. 20th St. Summit meeting will feature keynote presentation by Will Torrence, Ph.D., assistant professor of community health education at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Three breakout sessions will deal with sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and healthy relationships. There will be free skating and refreshments from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and free T-shirts for the first 150 participants. Contact Kenya Love at 444-3056.
- Friday, Dec. 1, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., UNMC Durham Research Center Auditorium, 45th St. between Dewey and Emile streets. Blacks Working with AIDS, Inc. and UNMC community partnership co-sponsor “A Conversation on AIDS – Clinic, Church and Community” featuring the Rev. Bryan Massengale, assistant professor of theology at Marquette University, and Dr. Susan Swindells, director of the UNMC HIV Clinic. The event is free to the public and refreshments will be served. Contact Walter Brooks at 559-5768.
- Saturday, Dec. 2, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., “2006 Ladies Day Out,” UNMC Community Health Clinic, 50th St. and Ames Ave. Free health screenings focusing on women to include HIV, blood pressure, colon cancer, diabetes and cervical cancer pap smears. Participants to receive spa-like enticements. Contact Ira Combs at 595-3807.
- Saturday, Dec. 2, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Focus on Health: Community Health Outreach Forum, North High School, sponsored by Elite Good Ones, Inc. Multiple health screenings, free food and breakout presentations. Anticipate 350 registered participants. Program will end with a special guest appearance by Grammy Award-winning hip hop artist “T.I.” He is performing at 7 p.m. later that night at the Omaha Music Hall. The health forum is free to the public. Contact Roni Davis at 706-9673.
- Saturday, Dec. 2, 8 p.m. to 1 p.m., Nebraska AIDS Project 2006 “Night of a Thousand Stars – Hollywood at the Holiday” gala. Tickets are $40. Contact Sara Grossman at 552-9260, Ext. 139.
The UNMC event on Dec. 1 brings together two different minds to explore the contemporary reality for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Rev. Massengale is one of the most widely known African American Catholic priests in the United States. He holds a doctorate in moral theology and is professor at the St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee and a faculty member in the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University in New Orleans. He is a noted author and lecturer on social ethics, liberation theology and social justice, and focuses on racial reconciliation, affirmative action, health care restructuring and environmental justice. He is a leader in the National Black Catholic Caucus.
Dr. Swindells, the Terry K. Watanabe Professor of Internal Medicine in the section of infectious diseases, has been treating HIV/AIDS patients for almost 25 years and is now also recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities and researchers on the disease. She will be offering insights from her many years of treating minority AIDS patients, as well as updates from her latest research and the 2006 AIDS Update Conference sponsored by UNMC in October.
Elite Good Ones, which is sponsoring the Dec. 2 event, is a non-profit community-based group of young women focused on Omaha’s youth. Its event is co-sponsored by Omaha Public Schools Community Services, Omaha Economic Development, Woodmen of the World, Omaha AHEC and Creighton University.
The appearance of three-time platinum recording artist “T.I.” is anticipated to be a major draw for area youth to the forum. He will speak briefly and answer questions. Other presentations will include: Hot 107.7 FM radio’s “History of Hip Hop;” a fitness session led by Ahman Green’s Athletic Warriors; drug and alcohol education by Greater Omaha Community Action; screenings for HIV, body mass index, and CPR training; HIV/AIDS education sessions by Nebraska AIDS Project and Sherri Nared, HIV counselor-trainer for Douglas County Health Department; and personal testimony by, Cindy, a person living with AIDS. Only 350 youth will be able to register for this program.
The co-chairs for “Night of a Thousand Stars” on Dec. 2 are Anne and Mike Boyle. The “Hollywood at the Holiday” event is much anticipated and is expected to include, for starters, a Joan Rivers impersonator interviewing guests on the red carpet.