AIDS is a worldwide health threat with a significant impact on Louisiana. As of September 2006, more than 15,000 people in the state were living with HIV/AIDS, with more than half of them living with AIDS. Nationally, Louisiana ranks 5th highest in AIDS case rates and 11th in the number of AIDS cases.

World AIDS Day has been observed Dec. 1 of each year since 1988 to expand and strengthen the efforts to stop the spread of the disease. Louisiana will participate in World AIDS Day to remember those lost to HIV/AIDS and to promote public awareness of the disease. A full listing of events being planned throughout the state is provided below.

For more information, contact the individuals listed for the event, or call the Louisiana Statewide HIV/STD info line at 1-800-99AIDS9 (1-800-992-4379).

New Orleans area;

Thursday, Nov. 30

WORLD AIDS DAY: AN HIV/AIDS HOUR OF EMPOWERMENT
St. John #5/Camp Ace
3613 Hamburg Street
New Orleans
7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
An HIV/AIDS/STDs discussion including guest speakers, questions and answers, door prizes and refreshments. HIV testing will be provided.
For more information contact:
Tamachia Davenport at 504-610-8471 or 504-283-7376

ACTION MAKES A DIFFERENCE
City Hall
1300 Perdido Street
New Orleans
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Agencies from the New Orleans area will provide no-cost rapid HIV counseling and testing and educational materials. There will also be guest speakers. Participating agencies include N’R PEACE, St. John #5/Camp Ace, Tulane Drop In-Center, NO/AIDS Taskforce, JPHSA, Excelth, NORAPC, the Red Cross and the La. Dept. of Health and Hospitals Office of Public Health Family Planning Program.
For more information contact:
Allison Vertovec at 504-821-2601 or Franda Thomas or 504-568-7474

WORLDS AIDS DAY CANDLELIGHT MEMORIAL
Washington Artillery Amphitheatre
Decatur Street (across from Jackson Square)
New Orleans
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
A candlelight memorial reflecting on the HIV/AIDS epidemic with readings by survivors, musical performance and “open-mic” providing a chance to reflect.
For more information contact:
Tyson Jackson at 504-945-4000

BROTHERHOOD INC.’S COMMUNITY WORLD AIDS DAY AWARENESS SESSION
It’s About Time Lounge
940 Elysian Fields Ave
New Orleans
7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Community World AIDS Day Awareness Session- Brotherhood, Inc. will host games with the facts about HIV transmission and prevention.
For more information contact:
Richard Garrad at 504-931-5132

Saturday, Dec. 2

HIV/AIDS COMMUNITY AWARENESS DAY
A.P. Clay Resource Center
200 Decatur Street
Kenner
12 p.m.
The City of Kenner Department of Community Development will be sponsoring a family friendly community event. There will be a panel of HIV+ speakers and various attractions including health testing, prevention tables and a bounce house.
For more information contact:
Arleeta Terrell at 504-468-7588

Baton Rouge area:

Friday, Dec. 1

CELEBRATION OF LIFE MEMORIAL WREATH
Family Service of Greater Baton Rouge
4727 Revere Ave.
Baton Rouge
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Family Service of Greater Baton Rouge will have a memorial wreath honoring the lives of individuals who passed away from HIV/AIDS. All clients, staff members of HIV/AIDS agencies and any other individuals are invited to come tie a red ribbon on the wreath, which will be hung on the front door of Family Service during the month of December to commemorate the lives of these individuals.
For more information contact:
Althea Fryson at 225-927-9810×211

WORLD AIDS DAY COMMEMORATIVE PRAYER LUNCHEON
Aspirations Wholistic Tutorial Services
2156 Wooddale Boulevard, Ste 650
Baton Rouge
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Aspirations Wholistic Tutorial Services will host the Second Annual HIV/AIDS Commemorative Prayer Luncheon. There will be representatives from the Governor’s and Mayor’s offices speaking at the lunch. The event is designed to encourage churches, agencies, universities and the community to come together to fight AIDS.
For more information contact:
Joyce Turner Keller at 225-248-8533

Saturday, Dec. 2

“WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW CAN HURT YOU” – STOP AIDS – KEEP THE PROMISE
Holiday Inn Select
4728 Constitution Avenue
Baton Rouge
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The Baton Rouge AIDS Society is sponsoring this no-cost conference, which is limited to the first 350 registered participants on a first-come, first-serve basis. The conference will include breakfast, lunch, general assemblies, keynote speakers, three rounds of nine breakout sessions, gospel choirs, door prizes, T-shirts and vendor tables.
For more information contact:
Gabrielle Johnson at 225-268-9358

Houma area:

Friday, Dec. 1

WORLD AIDS DAY CELEBRATION
L.E Fletcher Technical Community College
310 St. Charles
Houma
10 a.m – 2 p.m.
Staff from N’R PEACE will provide an information table where they will distribute materials and conduct educational sessions. Testing will be available for students/staff/individuals.
For more information contact:
Shantelle Wade at 985-223-2920

WORLD AIDS DAY CELEBRATION
KBZE 105.9 FM
12 p.m.
Staff from N’R PEACE will conduct a question and answer session on HIV/AIDS, give statistics and talk about the epidemic 25 years later on the Jerome Boykin Show. Jerome Boykin is the president of the Terrebonne Parish branch of the NAACP.
For more information contact:
Onita Harris at 985-223-2920

Lafayette area:

Thursday, Nov. 30

WORLD AIDS DAY HEALTH FAIR
Opelousas Housing Authority Community Room
907 Larent Street
Opelousas
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Acadiana CARES will sponsor a health fair that will involve addictive disorder clinics, Southwest Primary Health Clinic and various other health organizations doing health screenings.
For more information contact:
Andre Mitchell at 337-233-2437

Friday, Dec. 1

WORLD AIDS DAY HIV TESTING
Creole Motors
108 West Simcoe
Lafayette
1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center will provide no-cost confidential HIV testing from its mobile health unit. Outreach/referrals will also occur within the neighborhood and invitations to the evening’s memorial candlelight service will be passed out to community members.
For more information contact:
Brian Burton at 337-497-0127×15

WORLD AIDS DAY MEMORIAL CANDLELIGHT SERVICE
Progressive Baptist Church
2001 Simcoe Street
Lafayette
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center will host a candlelight service including a prayer service, choir and stepping presentation. SWLAHEC staff will honor the Acadiana Unsung Hero with an award, as well as the poetry contest winner. There will be a children’s reading and presentations including a youth skit. The evening will end with an outdoor candlelight prayer and a community gumbo.
For more information contact:
Brian Burton at 337-497-0127×15

Lake Charles area:

Friday, Dec 1

WORLD AIDS DAY- STOP AIDS! KEEP THE PROMISE
First Christian Church
2525 2nd Avenue
Lake Charles
7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
The Southwest Louisiana AIDS Council will sponsor a program as a call to action and a remembrance of those who have died. The program agenda will include a proclamation presented by the Mayor, the Sacred Heart Gospel Choir, testimonials of persons living with and affected by HIV/AIDS, a Guerilla theatre skit by a teen group, slide presentation and more. Reception will be provided afterwards. Information booths will be available in the reception hall. HIV testing will take place at SLAC the week of the event.
For more information contact:
Executive Director Terry Estes or Community Educator Amber Morgan at 337-439-5861

Alexandria area:

Friday, Dec. 1

WORLD AIDS DAY: AWARENESS DAY PROGRAM
Bolton Community Center
1815 North Bolton Ave.
Alexandria
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
CLASS will host a day of awareness including music, educational speakers, same-day testing, activities for all ages, two mayoral proclamations, free food and a host of other fun activities.
For more information contact:
Ann Briley or Ann Jennings at 318-442-1010

Shreveport area:

Wednesday, Nov. 29

FACES OF AIDS PHOTO EXHIBIT
LSU-Shreveport Noel Library
3rd Floor Lobby Area
One University Place
Shreveport
6 p.m. – 7 p.m.
The Philadelphia Center, in collaboration with the LSU-Shreveport American Humanics Student Organization, is presenting the FACES of AIDS Photo Exhibit. An opening reception will be held Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. The exhibit will be in the 3rd Floor Lobby area of the LSU-Shreveport Noel Library. The exhibit will be on display through Friday, Dec. 1.
For more information contact:
Kelly M. Stover at 318-222-6633×25

Thursday, Nov. 30

NO-COST HIV TESTING & PRESENTATION OF “FRONTLINE: 25 YEARS OF AIDS” DOCUMENTARY
Business & Education Bldg. Room 115 & University Center Theater
One University Place
Shreveport
10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
The Philadelphia Center, in collaboration with the LSU-Shreveport American Humanics Student Organization, will offer no-cost HIV testing from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. in the Business & Education Bldg., Room 115 on Thursday, Nov. 30. They will also offer the documentary “Frontline: 25 Years of AIDS” at 6 p.m. in the LSU-Shreveport University Center Theater.
For more information contact:
Kelly M. Stover at 318-222-6633×25

Friday, Dec. 1

CANDLELIGHT CEREMONY
Betty Virginia Park
3901 Fairfield Avenue
Shreveport
6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
The Philadelphia Center, in collaboration with the LSU-Shreveport American Humanics Student Organization, is holding a candlelight ceremony at Betty Virginia Park (between Fairfield Avenue and Line Avenue). The ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 1.
For more information contact:
Kelly M. Stover at 318-222-6633×25

Monroe area:

Friday, Dec. 1

MOTIVATIONAL RALLY
Tallulah High School Stadium
600 Bayou Drive
Tallulah
9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m.
A motivational rally will be held at the Tallulah High School Stadium. The purpose of the event is to motivate youth and adults in the region to protect themselves and to not be afraid to get tested. Outpatient Medical Center – Tallulah organized this event in collaboration with Delta Head Start – Tallulah, Patient’s Choice Hospice, the Madison Parish Hospital, Tiny Tots Day Care, the LSU AG Center and GO CARE.
For more information contact:
Dr. Raymond Poliquit at 318-574-1453

PUBLIC HEALTH FORUM
Outpatient Medical Center
804 Beech Street
Tallulah
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Outpatient Medical Center – Tallulah is sponsoring a Public Health Forum for medical professionals in the area on the new CDC recommendations for HIV testing in the health care arena. Dr. Ronald Wilcox, medical director of Delta AIDS Education and Training Center at LSU – New Orleans will be the speaker. RSVP by Nov. 27, 2006.
For more information contact:
Dr. Raymond Poliquit at 318-574-1453

CANDLELIGHT WALK
Ana Gray Noe Park
300 Jackson Street (across from St. Francis Medical Center)
Monroe
6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
The park will be lit with candles for each person in Region 8 who has died from HIV/AIDS. The public is invited to attend in remembrance of loved ones and friends who have died, and in honor of those living with HIV. GO CARE staff members will be present to offer support and provide information.
For more information contact:
Richard Womack at 318-325-1092

Northshore area:

Thursday, Nov. 30

SOUTHEASTERN WORLD AIDS DAY EVENT
Southeastern University Campus
SLU 10453
Hammond
10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
The event is being sponsored by N’R PEACE, Camp Ace, Brotherhood, NO/AIDS Task Force, VOA-GNO and Excelth. The event will be open to the entire community and will include HIV counseling and testing and educational materials. A panel will be available for open discussion in the main ballroom on campus.
For more information contact:
Lisa Valido at 985-215-4667.

Submitted by Rob Anderson. Filed under General Topics

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