DC Town Hall Meeting Will Examine New Science and Policies to "Turn the Tide of HIV/AIDS" in Black Communities

NEW YORK, Nov. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thursday, November 29, the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, Inc. (NBLCA) will convene the community town hall meeting "Turning the Tide Together: Addressing HIV/AIDS and Health Disparities in Black Communities" in Washington, D.C. to discuss ways to more effectively address and develop national and local responses to HIV/AIDS and related health disparities in light of the most recent scientific knowledge and research. Topics discussed will include Treatment as Prevention, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The meeting, which is free and open to the public, will feature discussions with distinguished policymakers, faith and civic leaders, public health experts, and the HIV-affected community, led by C. Virginia Fields, President and CEO, NBLCA, and Rev. Dr. Frank D. Tucker, Affiliate Chair, BLCA Washington, D.C.

Among the speakers:

• Saul M. Levin, MD, MPA, Director, Washington, D.C., Department of Health – Treatment as Prevention
• Rafael Rivero, MD, Sr. Medical Scientist, HIV Medical Affairs, Gilead Sciences, Inc. – Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
• Ronald Johnson, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy, AIDS United – Affordable Care Act

The 11/29 meeting will be held at the People's Congregational United Church of Christ, 4704 13^th Street, NW, Washington, D.C., from 6 – 8 pm. More meetings are scheduled for Buffalo, NY (12/1), New York City (12/4), Tampa (12/7), Dallas (12/14), New Orleans and Jackson, MS (2013)—"hot spots" for HIV/AIDS where the black community is disproportionately affected.

"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 Ms. Fields. "These exciting developments represent our best chance to end the epidemic, but we must determine how African Americans can move forward as a community to achieve that goal. As we mark World AIDS Day on December 1 to unite with people around the world in the fight against HIV, our town hall meetings will engage our local communities in developing decisive action plans to turn the tide of HIV, together."

Media Contact:
Teri Wade, Mission & Message Communications
212-595-4047
[email protected]

SOURCE National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, Inc.

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED