On Dec. 2, kicking off International AIDS Awareness month, Bishop T.D. Jakes, the Metroplex Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and The Potter’s House Counseling Center launched – “It’s Time to Step Up!” – a comprehensive national and international HIV/AIDS awareness campaign that targets the faith community, women and minority populations. The kick-off rally at The Potter’s House will feature free on-site HIV testing, and in an effort to encourage the community to test, Bishop Jakes and The Potter’s House associate pastors will also publicly test for the disease.
“More has to be done,” says Bishop Jakes, “to halt the spread of this preventable and treatable disease and to address these frightening circumstances in the lives of all our brothers, sisters and children wherever they may live. We believe everyone has a role to play in educating the community about the challenges and issues surrounding this pandemic. As one of the largest predominately African-American churches in the nation, The Potter’s House is stepping up and taking action as part of a national and global offensive against HIV/AIDS.
The Potter’s House, as one of the largest African-American churches in the nation, had already begun is effort at Mega-fest ’06 where 600 tests were performed.
It’s Time to Step Up! is born out of the success of several HIV/AIDS workshops and testing events sponsored by The Potter’s House held in 2006. “It’s Time to Step Up!” will advocate and encourage HIV/AIDS awareness, education, prevention, testing and optimal treatment and serve as a call to action to the faith community.
Representing less than a quarter (13%) of the U.S. population, African Americans reportedly account for approximately half of the people currently diagnosed with HIV and AIDS. “From our very young to our most senior citizens, African Americans are dying prematurely and with greater frequency as a result of HIV/AIDS,” says Bishop Jakes. “Beyond our nation’s shores, AIDS has reached epidemic proportions, particularly so in Africa where an unprecedented number of orphaned children are literally raising themselves.”
AIDS is impacting the African American community disproportionately. “Twenty-five years after AIDS was made a national issue, the HIV infection is reportedly the No. 2 cause of death in the African-American community,” says Dr. Nicole McCann, Director of Counseling Services at The Potter’s House. While African Americans represent only 13 percent of the U.S. population, African Americans in general account for approximately half of the people currently diagnosed with HIV and AIDS.
HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death for African American women ages 25-34.
