HIV testing for blacks part of national awareness day
Free testing for HIV is being offered today in Roanoke as part of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
Blacks who think they might be infected with the virus can receive the tests at the Drop-In Center, a program of the Council of Community Services, at 356 Campbell Ave. in downtown Roanoke.
The testing is part of a larger effort to increase awareness of HIV and AIDS among blacks in the United States. While blacks represent about 14 percent of the population, they account for 44 percent of the nation’s new HIV infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
An estimated 1,984 blacks are living with the virus or disease in Southwest Virginia; 240 of them are in Roanoke, the Council of Community Services said in a news release announcing the testing.
The testing will be offered until 5 p.m. today. For more information, call the Drop-In Center at 982-2437.
February 7, 2013 - 11:53 AM
I thought we used AA when reporting? At least that’s what medical
Professionals use in the hospitals and in journals.
Thanks for the question. I’m assuming AA is a reference to African-American? If so, our policy is to use the word black, in accordance with the Associated Press stylebook. We do use African-American when it appears in a direct quote.