For Immediate Release: PWN-Philly with DHHS to Host National Women & Girls HIV Awareness Day Event

For Immediate Release:

Contact: Waheedah Shabazz-El (267) 231-2647 or Teresa Sullivan (215) 512-5104

Philly-Positive Women’s Network to Host National Women’s & Girls HIV Awareness Day.   “Time for Women to Take Action” to Stop HIV

Philadelphia, Pa.  March 1, 2011--The Philadelphia Chapter of the U.S. Positive Women’s Network  in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health (OWH) will host a local event in observance of National Women & Girls HIV Awareness Day, at the Rotunda Community Center, located 4014 Walnut St on  Saturday March 5,2011,from 10:00am until 2:00pm.  One of twelve sponsored events across the country where women will assert it is “Time to Take Action” and support the National HIV AIDS Strategy by developing approaches   that will reduce the rates of HIV amongst women and girls in the U.S.   

Jane Shull, Executive Director Philadelphia FIGHT will deliver the Key Note Address encouraging women to assume leadership in their own fight against HIV.  A  Proclamation from the City of Philadelphia will be presented to the 100 expected  guest who will be sporting “Time to Take Action” T-shirts and watches, compliments of D.C.’s Community Education Group. The event is free and will feature live performances by Philadelphia’s Award Winning Female Illusionists, Ms Andrea Lopez, COLOURS and Ms Tina Montgomery.  “This is a day for all women regardless of who you are or what you believe in to put our heads together to stop HIV” said Maria Cruz, Latino Coordinator PWN-Philly. 

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a nationwide observance that encourages discussion and teaching women and girls about prevention of HIV, the importance of getting tested for HIV, and how to live with and manage HIV/AIDS. “Women have got to be made a priority.  We are now 1/3 of the HIV epidemic in the U.S. But to make that happen we have to bring our own voices to the table” said Andrea Johnson, PWN Member and Founder of Girl U Can Do It Inc.

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Who we are:

The U.S. Positive Women’s Network (PWN) is a project of WORLD (Women Organized to Respond to Life-threatening Disease) in Oakland, CA.   We are a national membership body that exists to strengthen the strategic power of women living with HIV in the United States. PWN-Philly is one of several regional organizing groups. For more information please visit: www.pwn-usa.org or join the PWN mailing list by emailing pwn@womenhiv.org.  PWN-Philly Blog: www.pwn-philly@blogspot.com

PWN-Philly Hosts National Women & Girls HIV Awareness Day, March 5, 2011

    National Women and Girls HIV Awareness Day

Time for Women to Take Action Against HIV

   Where: The Rotunda: 4014 Walnut St,  Phila Pa 

When: Saturday March 5, 2011 

            From 10:00am to 2:00pm

Keynote Speaker: 

Jane Shull, Executive Director, Phila FIGHT

Welcoming New Members, Registered Members, Allies & Advocates

              

  Advocacy Discussion-                     Networking!              Food!       Fun!                  

This is a Free Event but space is limited.  

To RSVP Call: (215) 985-4448 ext 153

For more info contact Organizers:  

   Waheedah Shabazz-EL (267) 231-2647

Teresa Sullivan (215) 512-5104   

   Maria Cruz (215) 454-9838  

   Roberta Mclean (267) 471-9703

                                   Andrea Johnson at Girl U Can Do IT INC  (215) 378-9418

                                 www. pwn-philly.blogspot.com            www.womenhiv.org

Philly PWN Issues Statement on Black AIDS Day

For Immediate Release:

Contact:  Waheedah Shabazz-El   (267) 231-2647 or Teresa Sullivan (215) 512-5104

On Black HIV Awareness Day - Philly Positive Women’s Network speaks: “HIV in the African American Community is a Symptom of Much Larger Problems”

Philadelphia, PA, Monday February 7, 2011 -- HIV/AIDS has taken up residence in African American Communities.  Nearly 30 years into the HIV epidemic, data shows  most new infections to be among African American communities and other communities of color.  

Despite education and social marketing campaigns, HIV continues to thrive in African American communities because HIV is a symptom of much larger problems embedded in chronic poverty, inadequate health care options, and social inequities such as racism, poverty and homophobia.

These factors make poor people and people of color more vulnerable to HIV.

According to PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH INTEGRATED EPIDEMIOLOGIC PROFILE OF HIV/ AIDS IN PENNSYLVANIA, 2009 – 2010, when it comes to HIV infection in Pennsylvania, blacks account for 51% of HIV cases and 17% of newly diagnosed AIDS cases, although we make up only 10.6% of the general Pennsylvania. population.

PWN-Philly Coordinator Waheedah Shabazz-El said “ Looking at Pennsylvania’s statistical data and working in the community every day I have come to see that where there are barriers to quality health care, education, or lack of affordable housing there are high rates of HIV, STDs, homelessness and incarceration.  We must start making the connections between HIV and these other structural inequalities that drive the epidemic.”

“Until our leaders, decision makers and health departments develop and fund programs that address these structural predicaments, society will continue to see HIV proliferate in poor communities and communities of color”, commented  PWN Steering Committee Member, Teresa Sullivan.

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Who we are:

The U.S. Positive Women’s Network (PWN) is a project of WORLD (Women Organized to Respond to Life-threatening Disease) in Oakland, CA.   We are a national membership body that exists to strengthen the strategic power of women living with HIV in the United States. PWN-Philly is one of several regional organizing groups. For more information please visit: www.pwn-usa.org or join the PWN mailing list by emailing pwn@womenhiv.org.