WORLD AIDS DAY: "Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise"

December 1st marks the observance of World AIDS Day – a day established by the World Health Organization in 1988 to focus global attention on the devastating impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The 2007 Theme is: " Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise. "

As a child in the mid eighties, I remember meeting a friend of my parents named Ned Benkhe . In addition to his amazing commitment to the community around him, I remember his as being the first person that I knew to have and die from AIDS. I guess I will never forget him. Many people have similar stories to share of loved ones and their struggles with HIV/AIDS

These days we are blessed to have some amazing medical advances in this area; but the HIV/AIDS struggle continues. Public health authorities are raising the alarm that rates of HIV infections among men who have sex with men are once again on the rise.

Organizations like the AIDS Foundation of Chicago ( AFC ) are stepping up to the plate with events and fundraisers to educate, assist, and inspire people. The World of Chocolate event, that took place in Chicago, November 29th, was one such event.

The 2007 Chicagoland World AIDS Day Community Committee and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced earlier this week a week of educational and testing events throughout the Chicagoland area, culminating on December 1, to commemorate World AIDS Day 2007.

There will be free HIV tests and counseling from the Chicago Department of Health at the Test-Out sites throughout Chicago:

The following are the Walgreens locations for those tests:
• 87th & Stony Island
• 75th & State
• 71st & Jeffery
• 26th & Albany
• Central & Chicago Ave.
• Homan & Roosevelt Rd.
• Belmont & Broadway
• Grand & Pulaski

The following are the CDPH Clinics for those tests:
• Roseland Specialty Clinic 200 E. 115th
St. (312) 747-2817
• South Austin Specialty Clinic 4958
West Madison (312) 746-4871
• Uptown Clinic 845 W. Wilson (312)
744-1935
• Lakeview Specialty Clinic 2861 N. Clark
(312)744-5507
• Englewood STD Specialty Clinic 641 W.
63rd (312)747-8900
• West Town Adolescent Specialty Clinic
2418 W. Division (312)744-5464

Perhaps in honor of all those that have struggled and are struggling with HIV/AIDS, you can observe World AIDS Day by donating to this important Make A Difference cause!