The Michigan Department of Community Health, Division of Health, Wellness and Disease Control (MDCH/DHWDC) is recognizing World AIDS Day through a series of weekend events and observations.

The theme for this year's World AIDS Day, which is officially acknowledged as Dec. 1, is Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise: Take the Lead.

Nationally, it is estimated that 1.4 million people are living with HIV infection, with one quarter unaware of their infection. As of July 1, 2007, a total of 12,982 people were known to be living with HIV/AIDS in Michigan, over half with a diagnosis of AIDS. Further breakdown reveals that 59 percent of those infected are African-American, 36 percent are White, 4 percent are Hispanic, and 1 percent are other or of unknown race. Almost 77 percent of those infected are males.

In the Detroit metro area, 8,860 residents, or 68 percent of those infected, are living with HIV/AIDS. Adolescents and young adult diagnoses have increased for the second consecutive year, with three quarters of those being African American.

MDCH/DHWDC, in conjunction with the Detroit Department of Health & Wellness Promotion and the Wayne County Health Department, will begin recognizing World AIDS Day on Friday, November 30, 2007 at the Northwest Activity Center in Detroit. Activities planned in Detroit include free and confidential HIV testing, STD screenings, and high blood pressure and glucose screenings. Presentations by people living with HIV/AIDS and musical entertainment also will be featured.

The Lansing Area AIDS Network (LAAN), in conjunction with MDCH/DHWDC, will continue to lead the community in an annual observance and feature music and portions of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt through an observance at the Hannah Center in East Lansing on Saturday, Dec. 1. Details regarding these observances, and others taking place statewide, are available here.

MDCH/DHWDC continues to provide HIV prevention education and care services, as well as training, to support our state's HIV/AIDS service providers.

For more information on HIV/AIDS and World AIDS Day, please go to www.mihivnews.com, or contact the MDCH Division of Health, Wellness and Disease Control at 517-241-5900, LAAN at (517) 394-3719, or the Michigan AIDS Hotline at 800-872-2427.