NBC-5 Chicago is producing the “Color of AIDS" campaign on HIV/AIDS and communities of color. A 2007 CDCl report shows African-Americans and Latino communities are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. Blacks accounted for 49% of all reported diagnosis nationwide and Latinos accounted for 19%. The same report shows the rate of AIDS diagnoses for black women was 22 times the rate for white women. The rate for Hispanic/Latino women was five times that of their white counterparts. “This is something many people don’t talk about. HIV/AIDS does not get the attention it used to and it certainly isn’t covered in communities of color. It’s not a subject that is easily accepted at home, church or school but conversations about education and prevention need to be happening” said NBC-5 news anchor Zoraida Sambolin. “We want to be a catalyst in helping people start those important discussions” NBC-5’s “Color of AIDS” special reports will air every day at 5:00am and 5:00pm February 8 thru February 12, 2010. The series will culminate with a public fundraising event Friday, February 12, benefiting AIDS Foundation of Chicago and its affiliate organizations including Better Existence with HIV (BEHIV).
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