[Archived] City of Alexandria Participates in National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

For Immediate Release: January 27, 2022 

The City of Alexandria and Alexandria Health Department will host a National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Virtual Symposium on Monday, February 7, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The event will highlight the disproportionate impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Black communities and the broad-ranging challenges this poses for Black Americans. 

Additional presentations will include “Fighting HIV Stigma through Personal Action” by Anthony Gutierrez, Community Liaison, Gilead Sciences; “Resilience Toward Live After HIV,” by Patrick Ingram, Community Activist; and “HIV Criminalization, Stigma and Trauma,” by Andre Leaphart, Executive Director, Access Restoration Community Center. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Blacks/African Americans account for a higher proportion of new HIV diagnoses and people with HIV, compared to other races and ethnicities. According to AIDSVu, 56.4% of the 23,691 persons living with HIV in Virginia are Blacks/African Americans. Of the 822 new diagnoses in 2019, 63.9% were Blacks/African Americans.  

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is observed annually on February 7 to increase awareness, spark conversations, highlight the work being done to reduce HIV in Black or African American communities in the United States and show support for people with HIV in these communities. 

Visit alexandriava.gov/Health to register for the virtual symposium and learn more about National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Registration is required by February 5. 

For inquiries from the news media only, contact Andrea Blackford, Editorial Communications Manager, at andrea.blackford@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.3959. 

For reasonable disability accommodation, contact nechelle.terrell@vdh.virginia or call 703.746.4934, Virginia Relay 711.