Annual ‘100 Black Men of America’ Conference to Announce Plan to Combat AIDS
Black leaders, health officials and entertainers meeting this week in Atlanta at the 15th 100 Black Men of America National Conference are expected to announce today a plan to fight HIV/AIDS in their communities, USA Today reports. They will present the plan to President Bush (Copeland, USA Today, 6/8). In his opening remarks on Wednesday, national chair Thomas Dortch said that participants were meeting to "turn the heat up in addressing AIDS." He added, "We have got to push communities and organizations to take a stand against this disease, which is 20 years old now. Our goal is to make sure that is placed high on their agenda" (Associated Press, 6/7). More than 50% of the 40,000 new HIV cases reported in the United States are among blacks, a 25% increase from 1985, and the disease is currently the number one killer of blacks between 25 and 44 years old (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 6/7)
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