Chicago -- The Broadcast Ministers' Alliance of Chicago (BMAC) and Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will host daylong HIV awareness activities in commemoration of World AIDS Day on December 1. The programs will be held at the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition headquarters, 930 E. 50th Street. In addition to workshops and special activities sponsored by Governor Rod Blagojevich's BASUAH (Brothers and Sisters United Against HIV) program, the groups will also offer on-site, rapid testing for HIV infection. All programs are free and open to the general public.

Featured activities include the nationally televised Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Saturday Morning Forum featuring the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., and special guest Debra Frazier-Howe, president of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS. Following the broadcast a panel of health experts will team with members of the religious community for a panel entitled, "HIV & The Faith Response." Youth and young adults will be targeted with a special afternoon forum featuring an interactive spoken word performance and a discussion about HIV prevention led by BASUAH youth ambassadors.

AIDS is the leading cause of death for black women ages 25 and 34, and the third leading cause of death of black Americans between 25 and 34. Illinois has the seventh highest number of AIDS cases in the nation, with 30,000 reported cases of AIDS since 1981. Of those diagnosed with the disease, about 16,500 have died.

"HIV infection remains one of the greatest threats to the African American community," said Dr. Claudia Johnson, BMAC medical director. "If we are to reverse this trend in Illinois we must continue the movement to invest in effective treatment and prevention programs."

The World Health Organization established World AIDS Day in 1988. World AIDS Day provides governments, national AIDS programs, faith organizations, community organizations, and individuals with an opportunity to raise awareness and focus attention on the global AIDS epidemic. An estimated 38.6 million people worldwide are living with HIV and more than 25 million people having died of AIDS since 1981.