| 260 South Broad St., 10th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102 p: (215) 985-6873 | f: (215) 985-6824 |
SafeGuards joins the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) in launching the first annual National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on September 27, 2008. A recent report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes astonishing increases in HIV/AIDS among men who have sex with men (MSM) across the nation. While gay men comprise fifty-three percent of new HIV cases, we are underrepresented in the national awareness days and HIV prevention efforts.
In data soon to be released by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, the HIV case rate is distressingly high in Philadelphia. The number of new HIV infections in Philadelphia is currently 5 times the national rate and 2 times the rate of New York City. Along with this has been a resurgence of HIV among MSM, particularly young MSM under the age of 25.
National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a call to action that recognizes the heightened complacency around AIDS that has occurred in the past decade – leading to a resurgence of new HIV infections among gay men. The fact is that the HIV epidemic is far from over for gay men.
To find out more information about how you can get involved visit www.napwa.org. In Philadelphia, contact SafeGuards at (215) 985-6873 or at saferthebetter@yahoo.com.
September 28th, 2008 | HIV/STD, Communities, Gay Men, Healthy Perspectives .
