Tonight NBC-5 launchs a week-long campaign called the "Color of AIDS," highlighting the impact of HIV/AIDS on Chicago's minority communities.
The campaign features a series of special reports and a fundraiser for local agencies that assist HIV/AIDS victims. A 2007 Centers for Disease Control report shows African-Americans and Latino communities are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. Blacks accounted for 49% of all reported diagnosis nationwide, and Latino's accounted for 19%. Women of color are especially affected. The same report shows the rate of AIDS diagnoses for black women was 22 times the rate for white women. The rate for Hispanic/Latino women was five times that of their white counterparts.
"This is something many people don't talk about. HIV/AIDS does not get the attention it used to and it certainly isn't covered in communities of color. It's not a subject that is easily accepted at home, church or school but conversations about education and prevention need to be happening" said NBC-5 news anchor Zoraida Sambolin. "We want to be a catalyst in helping people start those important discussions"
The "Color of AIDS" series will run on NBC-5's 5:00am and 5:00pm newscasts February 8-12. The series will culminate with a public fundraising event Friday, February 12, benefiting AIDS Foundation of Chicago and its affiliate organizations including Better Existence with HIV (BEHIV).
The "Color of AIDS Party" will be held February 12 at the Parkway Ballroom located at 4455 South Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Drive in Chicago.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Tags: aids foundation of chicago, behiv, fundraiser, nbc5
