The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) will commemorate World AIDS Day on Thursday, December 1, during an awareness event in the New Center area of Detroit. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"Educating the public is our first step in preventing disease," said Janet Olszewski, MDCH Director. "Public Health continues to be the most consistent source of services for our most vulnerable citizens and state and local health departments play a unique and vital role in HIV related prevention, care and treatment."

In addition to the New Center event, local health departments and community-based organizations statewide will host a variety of World AIDS Day events, supporting this year’s theme: "Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise". (A statewide list of World AIDS Day events is attached.)

Nationally, an estimated one million people are living with HIV, one-quarter of whom are unaware of their infection. Approximately 40,000 new HIV infections occur each year in the United States, about 73 percent among men and 27 percent among women. Statewide, more than 16,200 Michigan residents are living with the disease.

Of those infected in the state of Michigan, 58 percent are African-American, 36 percent are white, 4 percent are Hispanic, while another 2 percent are of an unknown race. More than 77 percent of people infected with HIV are males. In the Detroit Metro area alone, more than 7,000 residents are living with HIV/AIDS.

The Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Health, Wellness and Disease Control continues to provide ongoing HIV prevention, education, care services and training to support the state’s HIV/AIDS service providers.

For more information on World AIDS Day, please contact the Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Health, Wellness and Disease Control at 517-241-5900, or the Michigan AIDS Hotline at 800-872-2427.

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