WPCNR LANCET. From Westchester County Department of Health. (EDITED) November 30, 2004: White Plains will observe World AIDS Day Wednesday with a series of information events to educate citizens to the dangers and spread of AIDS. Westchester County, according to Westchester County Commissioner of Health, Dr. Joshua Lipsmann, has the highest number of AIDS cases in New York State outside of New York City. Around White Plains, citizens can attend the following events inside the city. There will also be two forums held Friday to educate women to the AIDS phenomena:
- White Plains Hospital Center (Davis Ave. @ E. Post Road) will be providing education materials and information on HIV/AIDS in the lobby from 11:30am-1:30pm. Contact Deborah Frantzen, Resource Clinician, 914-681-1194.
- The Westchester Coalition on Global Poverty and AIDS (WCGPA) is hosting an event with various speakers and cultural performances. The event is at 7pm at Memorial United Methodist Church, 250 Bryant Avenue in White Plains (between Mamaroneck Avenue and North Street). Admission is free. Donations will support three Westchester-based organizations providing treatment, care, and prevention services for HIV/AIDS in Africa. Visit www.memorialmethodist.org or call 914-949-2146 for directions. Free parking. For further information, contact Ken Paterson at 914-337-4247 or Ron Mitchell at HAPNY@hotmail.com.
- The LOFT is screening the film “Red Ribbon Blues” starring RuPaul, Paul Mercurio, Debbie Mazar, and John Epperson at 7:30pm. HIV/AIDS information will be available from ARCS, WCDOH, and NYU School of Medicine. 180 E. Post Road, White Plains. Contact: Yvette 914-948-2932.
“When people think of HIV/AIDS, they don’t realize how prevalent HIV/AIDS is in our own communities” said Joshua Lipsman, M.D., M.P.H, Westchester County Health Commissioner. “Many people would be surprised to learn that outside of New York City, Westchester County has the highest number of cases of HIV disease in the state,” added Dr. Lipsman.
In the United States, up to 950,000 Americans are estimated to have HIV, with 40,000 new infections every year. In New York State, Westchester County has the highest number of cases of AIDS and the highest number of cases of HIV.
In recognition of World AIDS Day, the Westchester County Department of Health will be hosting a conference, “The Down Low and HIV: What is the Connection?” on Friday, December 3 from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Crowne Plaza in White Plains. Featured speakers include Keith Boykin, lecturer and award-winning author; Patricia Nalls, Community AIDS activist for the rights of women living with HIV and their families; and Dr. Lisa Hightow, lead author of a study on a University of North Carolina outbreak of HIV among male college students.
This year’s World AIDS Day theme is “Women, Girls, HIV and AIDS,” which reflects on how
HIV/AIDS has significantly increased among women. Women now make up half of all people living with HIV worldwide. In Westchester County, women are contracting the disease more than ever before. Among women, middle-aged minorities are at greatest risk. “Data indicate that compared to their male counterparts, black, non-Hispanic women have a higher rate of HIV/AIDS infection, as do all women between 40 and 49 years of age” said Dr. Lipsman.
The December 3rd conference will focus on a common avenue of HIV/AIDS transmission among African-American women. African-American women between the ages of 30 and 50 who are in heterosexual relationships with men who are having sex with other men on “the down low” are particularly vulnerable to contracting HIV/AIDS. Recent national studies suggest that 30% of all black bisexual men may be infected with HIV, and up to 90% of those men do not know that they are infected. Researchers for the CDC have referred to these men as a “bridge” to infection from gay men to heterosexual women.
World AIDS Day events are occurring throughout Westchester County. Included are the following:
The Westchester Chapter of the United Nations Association of the U.S.A. will hold a forum on Sunday,
December 5th, “HIV/AIDS – a Global and Local Issue!” The keynote speaker will be Dr. Allan Rosenfield, Dean of the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University. He will be joined by a representative of UNAIDS and by student activist Kelley Cope. The forum will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. at the new Greenburgh Town Hall, 177 Hillside Avenue, Greenburgh 10607 (off Route 119). The public is welcome, free of charge. Light refreshments will be served. Call 914-478-3450 for more information or visit www.stratdev.com/UNA-USA/
- World AIDS Day Ceremony at 11:30am on December 1st, Mt. Vernon City Hall, City Hall Rotunda (open to the public). For further information, contact Danielle Scholar, 914-699-7230.
- The Mount Vernon Youth Council invites all youth ages 12-18 years old to “HIV… An
Issue for Everyone.” 3pm-7pm. Mount Vernon Armory, 144 North 5th Ave., Mount Vernon, NY 10550. Co-sponsored by The City of Mount Vernon (Mayor Ernest D. Davis), WestCOP and Family Services of Westchester. RSVP to Tamara Berthaud at 914-668.9124 x 18.
Peekskill: City of Peekskill Youth Bureau hosts the day commencing at 6pm on Wednesday, December 1st with a Candlelight Vigil Walk from Peekskill Youth Bureau Activity Center (16 North Broad Street) to the United Methodist Church located at 1040 Main Street. After the walk, the program will include poetry readings, praise dancing with a choir, and guest speakers. The theme of the event is: Remembering a Cause, Renewing our Commitment and Mobilizing a New Generation. For further information, contact 914-734-2186 or 914-734-2051.
The following are events sponsored by Westchester Medical Center for Wednesday, December 1st:
- 9:30am, Opening of the Quilts (WMC Interfaith Chapel)
- 10am-2pm, Information Table (University Hospital Main Lobby);
- Noon, Interfaith Service for Wholeness (WMC Interfaith Chapel);
- 2pm, AIDS Care Center (ACC) Service of Remembrance (WMC Interfaith Chapel);
- 5pm, Closing of the Quilts (WMC Interfaith Chapel).
For more information, contact Br. Richard John Lorino at 914-493-1292.
- December 1st: The following are events sponsored by the Yonkers HIV Providers’ Task Force (with the support of The Sharing Community, St. John’s Riverside Hospital, and Greyston Foundation) at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Getty Square unless other wise noted:
9:30am - Proclamation Ceremony at The Guild Room
10am- 3pm - The Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt Display
12pm – 1:30pm – Interfaith Vigil of Remembrance and Hope featuring the Lincoln High School Choir and the Greyston Health Services Theater Group
1:45 – 2:15pm – Acknowledgement Ceremony of Local Providers in the Guild Room
For more information and to register for the “The Down Low and HIV: What is the Connection?” conference on December 3rd, contact the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5256 or email omb1@westchestergov.com.
