WORLD AIDS DAY TO BE COMMEMORATED AT
UH
The University of Houston will join governmental
agencies and non-profit organizations across the globe commemorating
World AIDS Day Wednesday, Dec. 1.
The goal of World AIDS Day is to increase awareness of the deadly
illness, which has infected 38 million people worldwide, including
950,000 Americans as of 2003, according to the Joint United Nations
program on HIV/AIDS.
UH hopes to help achieve that goal by sponsoring activities such
as the display of the UH AIDS quilt, a health fair and free HIV
testing for the campus community.
“It’s important every year to remember those who have
died from AIDS-related illnesses,” said Gail Gillan, director
of UH Wellness, who conducted her first HIV/AIDS workshop at UH
15 years ago.
“Back then, there were 40,000 people living with HIV in the
United States; now there are almost a million,” Gillan said.
“My biggest fear and our greatest enemy is complacency. I
am now talking to students who may never have lived in a world without
AIDS. I don’t want them to accept that fate. I want us to
keep fighting for a cure until we again live in a world without
AIDS.”
A crucial part of the battle against AIDS is testing, said Floyd
Robinson, Health Center director.
The Health Center will offer free, confidential and anonymous HIV
testing to UH faculty, staff and students from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dec. 1. No appointment is required. Results will be available beginning
Friday, Dec. 3.
“I encourage everyone to know their HIV status,” Robinson
said. “One unprotected experience can render a person HIV
positive. It is so important to get tested and then return for the
test results even if a person has had only one unprotected experience.”
The center also offers free testing on National HIV Testing Day
in June, and year-round testing for the UH community for a $15 fee.
DEC. 1 WORLD AIDS DAY ACTIVITIES AT UH
- 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., AIDS Quilt Panels, University Center (UC)
Arbor & World Affairs Lounge
- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Free HIV Testing, UH Health Center
- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wall of Tears: Write Your Own Story, UC
Arbor
- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., UH AIDS Quilt: Express Your Feelings, UC,
front steps
- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Health Fair, University Center
- 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Reading of Names and Music, UC Arbor
- 5 – 6 p.m., Candlelight Ceremony, Speakers and Music,
UC Houston Room
For more information about UH visit the universitys Newsroom at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.
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