D.C. highlights free services on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the city’s Department of Health invited the public to attend a presentation on the city’s services for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS as part of the city’s commemoration of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, which takes place on Wednesday.
In a statement released Wednesday morning, the mayor’s office said the free presentation would take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday at the Union District Oyster Bar at 501 Morse St., N.E. “The event will bring residents together to learn more about the impact of HIV/AIDS on the Black community, outreach programs that are available, the role of community partnerships, the latest research and treatment options for HIV/AIDS, and more about Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) medications,” the statement says.
The statement says D.C. residents attending the presentation can receive free HIV testing onsite through the LGBTQ nonprofit organization Us Helping Us, People Into Living, Inc. “The event will also highlight success stories and strategies that have empowered Black individuals living with HIV/AIDS and debunk myths that typically contribute to stigma and discrimination,” according to the statement. “Additionally, there will be live music, free food, awards, and a photobooth for residents to enjoy,” it says.
The statement points out that according to the most recent D.C. Department of Health data, 71 percent of people living with HIV in D.C.
