For Immediate
Release
Feb. 7, 2007
WHITMAN-WALKER CLINIC OBSERVES NATIONAL BLACK HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY
Clinic To Offer Community Events, HIV Testing All Day
WASHINGTON - Whitman-Walker Clinic is marking National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day today with several events focusing attention on the epidemic and its devastating effect on the African-American community.
“A day like today is important to raise the public’s consciousness about HIV and AIDS – but we need to do much more, every day of the year,” said Jannette Williams, chair of the Clinic’s board of directors. “I can’t tell you how frustrating it is to see people continue to contract the virus that causes AIDS – because we all know what to do to avoid becoming infected. The problem is especially acute for African-Americans – who represent only 12 percent of the total U.S. population, but made up nearly half of all new AIDS cases reported in this country in 2003.”
Whitman-Walker Clinic will host an open house at the Max Robinson Center, 2301 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., S.E., from 3-5 p.m.
Following that, Whitman-Walker will hold a community reception at THEARC, 1901 Mississippi Ave., S.E., at 6:30 p.m. This event will include local leaders in the fight against HIV/AIDS, a presentation of a $150,000 donation to the Max Robinson Center by DC Chartered Health, HIV testing and music and refreshments.
“Local residents can come to the Max Robinson Center and learn what health care services are available,” said Barbara Chinn, the center’s director. “In addition to our HIV/AIDS specialty care, we offer primary care, such as regular check ups and treatment for illnesses, to anyone in the community. We accept many insurance plans, Medicaid, Medicare and DC Healthcare Alliance. However, no one is turned away because they cannot pay for services.”
The $150,000 donation from DC Healthcare Alliance is the second half of a matching grant dating to 2006.
“We are honored to present this $150,000 gift to support the services of the Max Robinson Center,” said Tamara Smith, president of DC Healthcare Systems, parent company of DC Chartered Health. “DC Chartered Health is committed to developing and supporting community-based health care resources. Whitman-Walker Clinic’s Max Robinson Center provides valuable services to residents east of the Anacostia River, in the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the District of Columbia. We know that this donation will go to serve communities in great need of both primary medical care and HIV/AIDS care.”
Whitman-Walker Clinic of Northern Virginia is co-sponsoring an HIV testing and outreach event at 6:30 p.m. at the Black History Museum at 902 Wyatt St. in Alexandria, Va. Free HIV testing will be available.
HIV testing will be available Feb. 7 at the following Whitman-Walker Clinic locations and times:
- Elizabeth Taylor Medical Center, 1701 14th St., N.W., 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Max Robinson Center from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Whitman-Walker Clinic of Northern Virginia, 5232 Lee Highway, Arlington, Va., from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- The Suburban Maryland AIDS Reduction Team at Holy Redeemer Metropolitan Community Church, 4907 Niagara Rd., Suite 102, College Park, Md., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Whitman-Walker Clinic’s Healthy Livin’ mobile testing unit will conduct HIV testing at Max Robinson Center from 3 to 5 p.m. and at THEARC from 6-9 p.m.
Established in 1973, Whitman-Walker Clinic is a non-profit, community-based provider of health care and social services in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Through three sites, in the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia, the Clinic offers primary medical and dental care; mental health and addictions counseling and treatment; HIV education, prevention, and testing; legal services; case management; and a food bank. Whitman-Walker Clinic is committed to meeting the life needs of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community and people living with HIV/AIDS.
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