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To
commemorate National Black HIV/AIDS Day BEBASHI will be hosting
a luncheon with noted keynote speaker, Helena Kwakwa, M.D.,
MPH. The topic of discussion will be AIDS: The New Middle
Passage, a lecture and discussion about devastating toll of
AIDS in America and Africa. In addition, BEBASHI will be offering
free HIV testing and giveaways. Please RSVP your attendance
as seating is limited. This is a free event!
According
to the CDC -it is estimated that a quarter of a million Americans
who are affected with HIV are not aware of it. In the United
States, African Americans make up 12% of the population, and
account for half of new HIV infections. In fact, in 2001,
the AIDS rate among African Americans was nine times the rate
reported among whites. In Philadelphia, African Americans
represent 65% of all cases reported through March 31, 2003.
BEBASHI
was founded in 1985, and is the first AIDS service organization
to address the alarming increase of HIV/AIDS in the African
American community of Philadelphia. Today, BEBASHI continues
to conduct street outreach, but expanded to include free HIV,
STI, and pregnancy testing and counseling, HIV prevention
education, case management for HIV+ individuals, housing counseling,
support groups for various lifestyles, and provides emergency
food for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. BEBASHI
serves 15,000 annually. Our mission is to provide culturally
sensitive health related information, direct service, research,
and technical assistance to the urban community.
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