Southern Christian Leadership Conference Announces National HIV Testing Campaign

On Monday, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference wrapped up its 50th annual convention in New Orleans. During the meeting, SCLC criticized New Orleans for the lack of opportunity for black city residents to help rebuild their community, and it announced a national HIV testing campaign. The civil rights group committed to screening 10,000 people in African-American communities nationwide for HIV and partnering with CDC and the Chicago-based Let's Talk Let's Test Foundation. In Louisiana, African Americans represented 68 percent of new HIV infections in 2006, despite accounting for just 33 percent of the state population, said Beth Scalco, director of the HIV/AIDS program for the Louisiana Office of Public Health.

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