This Weekend: Philadelphia FIGHT Community Health Fair Celebrates National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

This Saturday, March 7, Philadelphia FIGHT, Caring People Alliance, and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia will hold a community health fair at R.W. Brown Community Center (located at 1707 N 8th Street) to celebrate National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.

The event is a part of an annual observance, which takes place three days later on March 10, to recognize the impact of HIV on women and girls, who make up 20 percent of the new HIV infections in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The numbers continue to increase for black women and girls who are contracting the virus. Black women, who are between the ages of 26 and 34, for that demographic only, the leading cause of death is HIV/AIDS,” said Danica Moore, program coordinator at Philadelphia FIGHT, a comprehensive health services organization providing primary care, consumer education, research, and advocacy for people living with HIV/AIDS and those at high risk.

“So that stat is pretty alarming. So what [we’re doing] is developing services specifically for women that include treating persons living with the virus but also preventative services.”

The community health fair (consisting of various health and community-based organizations) will provide women, girls, and families the resources they need to prevent the spread of HIV.

“It’s an enjoyable event, but also educational,” Moore said.

There will be storytelling by individuals living with HIV/AIDS, music, food, and other healthy activities. In addition, health professionals will be also on site to answer any questions regarding the disease and to provide free and confidential HIV tests.

“If you get tested, the test literally takes one minute,” added Moore. “It’s anonymous, and so you get your results right then and there.”

Find more about the community fair at Philadelphia FIGHT’s website.

Image via Philadelphia FIGHT’s Facebook