Michigan groups
launch second annual Black AIDS Awareness Campaign

Michigan's Department of Community Health this week launched the second annual Black AIDS Awareness Campaign to coincide with National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on February 7, the Detroit News reports. The campaign, which will feature events in 17 cities, is designed to promote HIV awareness and encourage HIV antibody testing among African-Americans, who are being hit hard by HIV in the state. Although blacks account for 14% of Michigan's population, they account for 58% of the state's HIV cases.

Campaign events in the Detroit area will be sponsored by the Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Prevention, AIDS Partnership Michigan, Gospels Against AIDS/Global Research, and Marygrove College. Several black churches in the state also will join in the national Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS from March 5 to March 11. (Advocate.com)