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| AIDS Walk RI 2015 Honorary Chair Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH Director, RI Dept. of Health (photo courtesy of RI DOH) |
AIDS Walk RI Led by Top
Public Health Official
Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH: “There is more work to do”
Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH: “There is more work to do”
The state’s top public health official
is providing leadership for the annual AIDS Walk RI, happening Sunday,
September 13.
Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, who was
appointed the state’s director of public health earlier this year, will be an
honorary chair of the event, which starts and ends on the Rhode Island State
House lawn. Registration begins at noon, with a speaking program, including Dr.
Alexander-Scott, at 12:30. The approximately two mile route steps off at 1
p.m. Registration is also available
on-line at firstgiving.com/aidswalkri.
HIV Diagnoses Rise
“From
2013 to 2014 in Rhode Island, the number of newly identified cases of HIV
increased by nearly 33%. These data send a clear signal that despite the
progress we have made in reducing HIV over the years, there is more work to
do,” she said. “We are fortunate in Rhode Island to have great partnerships
among state agencies and community-based organizations like APRI to continue
our efforts to educate, test, and treat for HIV. The data remind us that we
cannot become complacent.”
Joining Dr. Alexander-Scott as honorary
chairs are NBC 10 reporter and anchor Mario Hilario and Dr. Philip Chan,
director of the HIV/STD Prevention Clinic at the Miriam Hospital Immunology
Center.
“We are fortunate to have Dr. Alexander-Scott,
Mario Hilario and Dr. Chan helping lead the way for this year’s AIDS Walk,”
said AIDS Project Rhode Island’s Stephen Hourahan. He noted that NBC 10 health reporter Barbara
Morse-Silva will emcee.
Purpose of AIDS Walk RI 2015
Participants in the walk raise critical
funds for public awareness, advocacy, testing and comprehensive services for
people living with HIV/AIDS. “Our goal is to raise awareness along with raising
funds,” he said.
AIDS Care Ocean State, a sister AIDS
service organization, is teaming up as a full partner in AIDS Walk RI this
year. “We are pleased to join forces
with AIDS Project Rhode Island to make AIDS Walk RI 2015 one of the best in the
event’s three-decade history,” said AIDS Care Ocean State executive director Paul
Fitzgerald. He noted that this year’s
theme is “Keeping Hope Alive.”
Free, fast, anonymous HIV testing will
be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be a performance from the
Providence Gay Men’s Chorus, the AIDS Quilt will be displayed, and there will
be free food and activities.
Sponsors
Event sponsors include Cardi’s
Furniture, CVS Health, Miriam Hospital/
a Lifespan Partner, Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI, United Healthcare, the City
of Providence, MetLife, McLaughlin & Moran, NBC 10, GoLocalProv, 94 HJY and Coast 93.3 radio, Latino Public
Radio, WBRU, Poder 1110, Latina 100.3, WJFD and WUMD.
More Information
More information about AIDS Project
Rhode Island, a division of Family Service of Rhode Island, and AIDS Care Ocean
State is available at www.aidsprojectri.org
and www.aidscareos.org.
