PO Box 16705 - Tampa, FL 33687
(813) 232-5886 - Fax (813) 232-0857

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT: Mary Ann T. Green
(813) 974-4892/mgreen@floridaaidsaction.org

FLORIDA AIDS ACTION SPONSORS MIAMI WORLD AIDS DAY EVENT

Tampa, FL - Florida AIDS Action (FLAA) is pleased to host a Miami-based World AIDS Day event on Friday, December 6th, 2002.

Part of a series of World AIDS Day activities occurring during the first week in December, World AIDS Day is December 1st, the FLAA event will take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the Sheraton Brickle in Miami. The morning activities include a remembrance ceremony and live entertainment.

Additionally, the program will feature a presentation honoring the 20 community based organizations participating in the Miami-Dade County Health Department's "Ride the Bus…" campaign. Started on March 27, 2002, the "Ride the Bus…" program is a collaboration between HIV/AIDS community-based organizations, Miami-Dade County Health Department Office of HIV/AIDS and the Miami-Dade County Transit System.

According to Evelyn Ullah, HIV/AIDS Program Coordinator for Miami-Dade, "Once a month, our various partners pair-up to conduct HIV education, outreach and voluntary HIV counseling and testing at bus stops and on buses throughout Miami-Dade County." Ullah continues, "The initiative was created to help reduce the number of new HIV infections in the County; address the ever growing population of HIV infected individuals who are unaware of their positive HIV status; and ensure that HIV positive individuals are linked to appropriate prevention, care and treatment."

"I hope that this event and the press conference that follows will help our communities to recognize the need for continued support of HIV/AIDS organizations locally, regionally and on a national level," explains FLAA Executive Director Dr. Gene Copello. "AIDS has been on the back burner for far to long. We need to invest in the future of human life by fighting AIDS today. Remembering those we've lost to this disease is the right thing to do - but it's not the only thing we need to do. Now is the time for mobilization and the 'Ride the Bus' program is an excellent example of how we can all work together to help put an end to AIDS."

Following the event, from noon to 12:30 p.m., Florida AIDS Action will hold a press conference to discuss the state of the AIDS epidemic in Florida and across the nation. The press conference will feature:
· Mr. Terje Anderson, Executive Director, National Association of People with AIDS
· Dr. Gene Copello, Executive Director, Florida AIDS Action
· Dr. Marsha Martin, Executive Director, AIDS Action
· Ms. Evelyn Ullah, HIV/AIDS Program Coordinator for Miami-Dade County, Florida Department of Health
· Ms. Petera Johnson-Hopson, Education Director, Florida AIDS Action

For more information on the Miami World AIDS Day, please contact Florida AIDS Action by phone at (800) 779-4898 or by email at: information@floridaaidsaction.org .

To learn more about Florida AIDS Action, and for information on how to become involved in AIDS advocacy work, please contact Florida AIDS Action by phone at: (813) 232-5886, or by email at: information@floridaaidsaction.org .

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Florida AIDS Action, the only statewide 501(c)(3) HIV/AIDS agency in Florida, promotes social change through community planning, education, public policy research and advocacy. For more information, call (813) 232-5886, or visit on the web at www.floridaaidsaction.org.