HU Hosts National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Forum

Hampton, VA - A National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day forum sponsored by the NAACP Hampton University chapter and the Hampton University Orchestra will be held on Feb. 7 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the HU Student Center cyber lounge. The forum, which will be facilitated by students and presented by Hampton Roads HIV/AIDS experts and educators, will enhance participants’ understanding of HIV/AIDS health disparities. The forum will approach the topic from the Health Resources and Services Administration 2000 perspective, which defines a health disparity as a population-specific difference in the presence of disease, health-outcomes, or access to care.

"We hope to dispel a lot of misperceptions and misconceptions that have resulted in high infection and mortality in communities of color. We want to send the message that HIV/AIDS effects everyone. HIV/AIDS does not care what color you are. It does not care if you’re black, white, green, or purple. It is not who you are that puts you at risk of HIV, it is what you do," said Pearlie Jett, the director of Self Protection Awareness, a non-profit community based organization in Newport News, Va.

Jett along with Brenda Hils, the HIV/AIDS Coordinator for the Peninsula Health District and Donna Walker, HIV prevention specialist with the Hampton/Newport News Community Service Board,, will speak at the event.

The HU Student Government Association is also promoting HIV/AIDS awareness by sponsoring an HIV/AIDS informational seminar on Feb. 8 in the student center ballroom from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. For more information contact the Office of Student Activities at (757) 727-5691.