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news release |
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ANDREW J. SPANO, Westchester County Executive JOSHUA LIPSMAN, M.D., M.P.H., Commissioner of Health SUSAN TOLCHIN, Director
of Communications |
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CONTACT:
MARY LANDRIGAN (914) 813-5013
(HEALTH
PIO) (914) 813-5000 (After Hours)
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 29, 2005
WESTCHESTER COUNTY COMMEMORATES WORLD AIDS DAY
Health Department hosts free World AIDS Day conference
From Botswana to
Guatamala, Honduras to Italy, the world will unite on Dec. 1 in recognition of
World AIDS Day. Westchester County is no exception and will be the site of a
myriad of World AIDS Day activities.
“When
people think of HIV and AIDS, they don’t realize how prevalent HIV and AIDS are
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 most people living with HIV and AIDS
in New York State,” added Dr. Lipsman.
In recognition of World AIDS Day, the Westchester County Department of Health and the Westchester County AIDS Council will be hosting a free conference, “HIV Prevention: A New Paradigm, New Partners” on Friday, Dec. 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Tappan Hill Mansion in Tarrytown. The featured speaker is Monica Sweeney, M.D., M.P.H., Vice President of Medical Affairs, Bedford-Stuyvesant Family Health Center and member of the President’s Advisory Council on HIV and AIDS. Workshops will include 1) What are the Real Risk Factors for African-American Women? 2) Crystal Meth: Questions and Answers for Suburbia 3) The Internet is the New Gay Bar and 4) The Emerging Risk of Immigrants and HIV. The conference is offered
at no cost, but advance registration is required. A continental breakfast and full lunch will be served at no charge. For more information on the conference, contact the Westchester County Department of Health at (914) 813-5602 or www.westchestgov.com/health.
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The following is a list of events occurring throughout Westchester County in recognition of World AIDS Day:
Mount Vernon
Thursday, Dec. 1
- Mount
Vernon Neighborhood Health Center Breakfast from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at
the Mount Vernon Neighborhood Health Center, 107 W. 4th Street. For
further information, contact Sharon Tyler at 914-699-7200.
- City of Mount Vernon World AIDS Day Ceremony from 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. in the Mount Vernon City Hall Rotunda at Roosevelt Square. Open to the public. For further information, contact Danielle Scholar at 914-699-7230.
- Mount
Vernon AIDS Task Force Luncheon from 1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Grace Baptist
Church, 52 S. Sixth Ave., Mount Vernon. Invitation only. Speakers include Mark E. Flowers,
Director of Homeless Program-Urban League and Willis Steele, Manager of
Abbott Laboratories.
- Youth Rally
from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Mount Vernon Armory, 144 North 5th
Ave. All youth ages 12-18 years
old are invited. The Dole Center, in collaboration with Family Services of
Westchester’s Youth Council, are hosting this event. It is also sponsored by the Department
of Recreation / Youth Task Force and Planned Parenthood’s T.A.P. (Teens
for AIDS Prevention). For further
information, contact Tamara Berthaud at 914-610-9375 or Kafi Patterson at
914-664-0699.
Peekskill
Thursday, Dec. 1
Sponsored by Hudson River HealthCare:
- Commemorative
service and breakfast, 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m., 1037 Main Street, 2nd
floor.
- OraQuick
rapid HIV testing and education outreach sessions via mobile medical van,
- 10:00 a.m.
– 4:00 p.m.
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- AIDS and
HIV awareness puppet show at Peekskill Grammar and Middle schools.
- Candlelight
ceremony, sponsored by Peekskill Youth Bureau 6:00 p.m., Main Street.
Public invited. For further
information, contact Nivea Colon at 914-734-8760.
Tarrytown
Friday, Dec. 2
World AIDS Day Conference: “HIV Prevention: A New Paradigm, New Partners”
from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Tappan Hill Mansion, 81 Highland Avenue.
Hosted by the Westchester County Department of Health and the Westchester
County AIDS Council.
Valhalla
Thursday, Dec. 1
The Westchester Medical Center will be providing educational materials
and information on HIV and AIDS in its main lobby and a memorial service will
be held at 2:00 p.m. For further
information, contact Richard Birchard at 914-493-1362.
White Plains
Thursday, Dec. 1
- White
Plains Hospital Center, Davis Ave. at E. Post Road, will be providing
educational materials and information on HIV and AIDS in the lobby from
11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. For further information, contact Virginia
Diamond at 914-681-1194.
- The
Westchester Coalition on Global Poverty and AIDS (WCGPA) is sponsoring an
event focusing on HIV and AIDS in Africa from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the
Memorial United Methodist Church, 250 Bryant Avenue. Join together with people and
organizations throughout the county to learn about, and
take action on global AIDS and
extreme poverty. The program will include remarks by Judith Mbula
Bahemuka, Kenya’s Ambassador to the UN;
presentations from the African Folk Heritage Circle; and entertainment by
TransJazz. Opportunities to become involved through initiatives such as the ONE
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Campaign will be presented. Admission is free. Donations will be
used for needed HIV and AIDS services in Africa. Visit the website www.memorialmethodist.org or call
914-949-2146 for directions. Free parking. For further information,
contact Ron Mitchell (Hope Africa Project NY) at HAPNY@hotmail.com.
Yonkers
Thursday, Dec. 1
The Yonkers HIV/AIDS Provider's Task Force sponsors a day of events
under the theme, “Reach Out … Stop AIDS … Keep the Promise!”:
- Yonkers’
very first AIDS walk is scheduled to meet at the steps of Yonkers City
Hall at 10:30a.m.
- The
traditional national Names Project Quilt Exhibit will be held from 11:00
a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
- Interfaith
AIDS vigil at St. John's Episcopal Church of Getty Square in Yonkers at
12:00 p.m.
For further information, contact the Sharing Community at 914-993-2626,
either Julie Carrion ext. 213 or Donald Johnson at ext. 215.
Throughout Westchester County
Thursday, Dec. 1
Planned Parenthood of Hudson-Peconic (PPHP), Inc. will offer
confidential rapid HIV testing on World AIDS Day during all hours of
operation at the Westchester offices. Incentives will be provided by
Project WAVE (War Against the Virus Escalating) for all patients that take an
HIV test. A testing appointment can be scheduled or walk-ins will be
taken at any of the PPHP centers located in Westchester County:
PPHP Mount Kisco 280 North
Bedford Road 914-666-6025
PPHP Mount Vernon South Second
Avenue 914-668-7927
PPHP New Rochelle 247-249 North
Avenue 914-632-4442
PPHP White Plains 175
Tarrytown Road 914-761-6566
PPHP Yonkers 20 South
Broadway 914-965-1912
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