National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS Townhall in Detroit TODAY

The National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, Inc. (NBLCA) has kicked off an eight-city town hall series with local community partners entitled, “Turning the Tide Together,” and will address HIV/AIDS and Health Disparities in Black Communities. The eight cities include: New York City, Atlanta, GA, Dallas TX, Tampa, FL, Detroit, MI, Washington, D.C, New Orleans, LA and Jackson, MS-many of which are ‘hot spots’ for HIV/AIDS and disproportionately impact the black community.

“Recent scientific advances and new policies can help to stem the high rate of HIV infection in African American communities, which have been ravaged for so long by the spread of the virus,” said NBLCA President C. Virginia Fields. “These exciting developments represent our best chance to end the epidemic, but the greatest challenge we face is determining how African Americans can move forward as a community to achieve that goal. Our town hall meetings around the country will engage the broader community in developing decisive action plans to turn the tide of HIV, together.

TODAY, Thursday, Nov. 15, a town hall meeting will take place at

Andrew Young Early College Academy:

8100 West Davidson,

Detroit, Michigan 48202

6:00pm – 8:00 pm ET

Speakers will address the following topics:

Moderator: Rev. Horace Sheffield, BLCA of Detroit, Affiliate Chair

Welcome Remarks: Charles Pugh – President, Detroit City Council
Treatment as Prevention - Kimberly Dawn Wisdom, M.D., M.S., Sr. Vice President Community Health Equity Henry Ford Health System, andMichigan Surgeon General
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) – Amadou Diagne, Gilead Sciences –Prevention methods like PrEP, used appropriately, offer an opportunity for the African American community to reduce the HIV infection rate, but the question is how best to deliver it and ensure adherence.
Affordable Care Act – Kanzoni Asadigi, M.D., Detroit Department of Health & Wellness Promotion

Community response panelists will also discuss topics such as: HIV/AIDS impact on women, impact on LGBT community and policy recommendations, and the impact on African American community and policy recommendations.

Forums are open to the public, and will bring together policy makers, faith and civic leaders, public health experts, and the HIV-affected community to more effectively address and develop national and local responses to HIV/AIDS given the most recent scientific knowledge and research findings advanced.

MUST SEE: Mysterious Disease Leaves Patients With AIDS-like Symptons, But Not HIV

MUST SEE: World Aids Day Detroit 2011 Testing Locations

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