On Tuesday evening, Boston City Council heard testimony about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in area communities of color. Though African Americans represent only 24 percent of the city's population, they account for 40 percent of its HIV/AIDS cases, said Michelle Bordeu, deputy director of the Boston Public Health Commission, whose statements opened the hearing. In response to the hearing, the council unanimously passed on Wednesday a resolution declaring a state of emergency with respect to the issue.

The state of emergency comprises a set of actions and recommendations drafted by the faith-based Dorchester organization Healing Our Land. HOL's recommendations -- given in testimony by its leader, the Rev. Franklin Hobbs -- for the city's plan of action include:

• Creating a line item in the city's budget, which is due for deliberation in April.

• Establishing a commission to present a public report about eligibility, funding and resource information from all area HIV/AIDS service providers.

• Creating a faith-based counseling and testing training pilot program, with state Department of Public Health assistance, so faith-based communities can conduct their own routine counseling and testing services.

• Creating and maintaining a 24-hour volunteer help-line to provide HIV/AIDS information and follow-up with clients to assess quality control and track developing trends.

"The goal is to build infrastructure capacity, to create a self-sustaining momentum to address the issue," said Hobbs, who, with others, clarified it was not their wish to alienate other communities affected by the disease by making the recommendations.

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