Illinois: $2.5 Million for HIV Fight; Education, Testing Efforts to Target Blacks

On Thursday, Gov. Rod Blagojevich said he will raise state spending on HIV/AIDS education and testing efforts targeting African Americans to $2.5 million.

The new campaign, called Brothers and Sisters United Against HIV/AIDS, will feature public-service announcements, ads, and a Wellness on Wheels van that will travel across Illinois and provide health screenings. A statewide African-American, faith-based conference is also planned to address the problem.

Blagojevich made his announcement at the Northeastern Illinois University Center for Inner-City Studies Auditorium. The governor called the AIDS epidemic "a threat to life and health, and something we need to be talking about all the time, all around the community."

Members of the Legislature's black caucus accompanied Blagojevich, along with state Public Health Director Dr. Eric Whitaker, and Yusuf Omar, South Africa's consul general.

In addition, Blagojevich said he has filed an emergency rule with the secretary of state's office to implement rapid HIV testing statewide, permitting more than 300 Illinois Department of Public Health facilities to administer the tests.

Back to other news for September 16, 2005