Hot Topic: HIV/AIDS & Women
Early in the HIV/AIDS epidemic, very few females were diagnosed with the disease. But today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses. In 2004, according the CDC, HIV infection was:
• the leading cause of death for black women (including African American women) aged 25–34 years.
• the 3rd leading cause of death for black women aged 35–44 years.
• the 4th leading cause of death for black women aged 45–54 years.
• the 4th leading cause of death for Hispanic women aged 35–44 years.
That's why the Coastal Health District is celebrating National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and hosting the following events about "Empowering Women & Girls Against HIV/AIDS."
Chatham County
Tuesday, March 10, 6-8 p.m.
West Broad Street YMCA, 1110 May Street, Savannah
Liberty County
Thursday, March 12, 5-6:30 p.m.
Community Room at the Regency, 100 Regency Place, Hinesville
Long County
Monday, March 16, Session #1: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; Session #2: 3-5 p.m.
57 N. Macon Street, Ludowici
To learn more about these events, please call 912.484.1885 or send an email to Cristina Gibson.
During these events, women and girls in the community will be able to:
• Learn important information on transmission and prevention of HIV & AIDS infection
• Have the opportunity for discussion with a peer advocate living with AIDS, who will share her experience
• Be tested for HIV
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a nationwide initiative to raise awareness of the increasing impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls. Families, health organizations, businesses, communities, the government and individuals come together to provide support, encourage discussion and educate women and girls about preventing infection and the importance of getting tested.
“In our Coastal Health District, which covers the eight counties along the coast of Georgia, including Chatham County, 76% of the HIV/AIDS female cases are among girls & women aged 15-44,” says Raimi Ewetola, epidemiologist for the HIV/AIDS Services Program. “It is so important for people to be tested for HIV because we are currently seeing 30-35% of our patients coming into our clinic, already in the later stages of AIDS. There may have been more treatment options available to them, had they been tested earlier.”
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is being celebrated on March 10.
For more information about HIV/AIDS among women and girls, please visit http://www.womenshealth.gov/NWGHAAD/planning-materials/.
To find county and state statistics about HIV/AIDS, please visit http://www.womenshealth.gov/quickhealthdata.
Listen to a CDC podcast about Women and HIV/AIDS.
Read a recent Health-E-Teens newsletter about HIV/AIDS.
WWW Address: http://www.gachd.org/hot-topic/hivaids_among_women_girls.php