Montgomery County, PA

The World Health Organization has designated December 1st of each year as World AIDS Day, in a worldwide effort to increase communication, education and preventive actions to stop the transmission of HIV and the spread of AIDS. This year’s theme of “Universal Access and Human Rights” encourages leaders at all levels to help stop the spread of AIDS and empowers everyone – individuals, organizations, and governments to lead in the response to AIDS.

 

The HIV epidemic continues to impact our community. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that someone in America is infected with HIV every 9 ½ minutes. Locally, in Montgomery County, over 1,600 men, women, and children have been diagnosed with AIDS since 1980 and an additional 719 cases of HIV infection have been reported since October 2002. 

 

Montgomery County Health Department and Project Hope will observe World AIDS Day together on Tuesday, December 1, 2009.  We will host a display of the Names Project AIDS Quilt in the Community Room of the Human Services Center location at 1430 DeKalb Street in Norristown from 1pm until 7pm on Tuesday, December 1st. The Health Department will have free rapid HIV testing, refreshments, and educational opportunities available throughout the day. Montgomery County Health Department has also collaborated with Montgomery County Community College’s art students to host a Custom Condom Design Art Contest. Submissions for the contest will be on display on World AIDS Day; attendees will be able to vote for their favorite design. The winning design will be printed and custom condoms will be distributed as part of Montgomery County’s ongoing comprehensive HIV prevention services. 

 

Take a moment on December 1st to come out and support this important HIV awareness event. Together, we can impact this epidemic in our community.