Adams State College AIDS Awareness Week begins Nov. 26 (11-15-07)
Adams State College and San Luis Valley Area Health Education Center are organizing a series of events to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS prior to World AIDS Day on Dec. 1.
According to the AVERTing HIV and AIDS website (AVERT), http://www.avert.org/worldstats.htm, more than 25 million people have died of AIDS since 1981. Africa has 12 million AIDS orphans and at the end of 2006, women accounted for 48% of all adults living with HIV worldwide, and for 59% in sub-Saharan Africa.
Charlotte Ledonne, RN, BSN, MA, with the SLV Area Health Education Center, is chairing the committee. She said three pieces of the Names Quilt will be on display in different locations on campus and in the community throughout the week of Nov. 26.
"One of the quilt pieces is entirely San Luis Valley made in memory of victims of AIDS," Ledonne said. "Half of another piece was made by Ortega Middle School students in the 90s."
The quilts, measuring 12 feet by 12 feet, will be displayed from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the following locations: the SLV quilt will be located at the SLV Regional Medical Center Atrium from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Monday, Nov. 26, and then will be moved to the Adams State Nielsen Library and will be on display from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, through Thursday, Nov. 29. The Ortega Middle School quilt panel will be displayed from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Adams State School of Business and an additional quilt panel will be displayed from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. in the Adams State Student Union Building. All quilt panels will be placed in the Student Union Building for the Vigil at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29.
More AVERT Worldwide HIV and AIDS statistics: Young people (under 25 years old) account for half of all new HIV infections worldwide, around 6,000 become infected with HIV every day. In developing and transitional countries, 7.1 million people are in immediate need of life-saving AIDS drugs; of these, only 2.015 million (28%) are receiving the drugs.
Cathy Robinson Pickett will educate others about HIV and AIDS while battling the disease herself at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 26, location to be announced.
The Ssejinja Children's Foundation presentation and video that tell about efforts to help Uganda's AIDS's-orphaned children, starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, in Carson Auditorium and from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the Student Union Building the Ssejinja Children's Foundation will sell handmade items from Uganda to support the foundation.
The film "A Closer Walk," as well as a question and answer session with health care professionals will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28, in Carson Auditorium. "A Closer Walk" portrays stories of various people whose lives are affected by this epidemic and others who are fighting the battle against HIV/AIDS as well as a question and answer session with health care professionals.
Events continue with a Candlelight Vigil at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, in Carson Auditorium; and Jess Tretler, presenter with the Southern Colorado AIDS Project, at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30, in Carson Auditorium, followed by two short films: Crisis Control: Ukraine's emerging HIV epidemic is contrasted with Africa's longstanding HIV/AIDS catastrophe as well as The Cost of Living: AIDS drugs unaffordable in developing countries.
All events are free and open to the public for more information contact the Adams State Campus Ministry at 719-587-7516 or Ledonne at 719-589-4977.
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By Linda Relyea
