Charlotte, NC - On Tuesday, February 7, the Mecklenburg County Health Department joins local community-based organizations in recognition of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness and Information Day. The day is set aside each year to raise awareness among African-Americans about HIV/AIDS and its devastating effect on African-American communities.

Free HIV testing will be offered in Mecklenburg County on February 7 to encourage citizens to become more educated about the disease, get tested and treated and make a commitment to fight HIV/AIDS.

Tuesday, February 7, 2006
Hal Marshall County Services Center, 700 North Tryon Street, Charlotte
8 a.m. -5 p.m.

"The facts are startling," said Mecklenburg County Health Director Wynn Mabry. "In the first half of 2005, African-Americans accounted for 69 percent of all new HIV infections in Mecklenburg County. There is an immediate need to educate the public about this AIDS epidemic and to offer information and testing to help slow this growing crisis."

The Mecklenburg County Health Department joins the Metrolina Aids Project, The Regional AIDS Interfaith Network and the Regional AIDS/HIV Consortium to observe this most important day. These groups are also sponsoring a bus trip to Raleigh on February 7 to participate in the statewide National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day rally.

For more information about National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness & Information Day, contact Brian Witt at 704-336-7217 or visit www.meckhealth.org.