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Magic Johnson & Abbott Events in NYC 11/30: Aims to Reduce New HIV Infections Among African-Americans by 50% by 5 Years
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In Harlem on November 30 at 9:00 a.m., the Magic Johnson Foundation and Abbott are holding a press conference during which Magic Johnson, his wife Cookie, and others will announce 2008 initiatives and the first-year results of the program.
WHERE: AMC Magic Johnson Theater
2309 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, New York City
Mary Szela - Senior Vice President, Pharmaceutical Operations, Abbott
Kim Smith, M.D. - HIV/AIDS Specialist, Rush University Medical Center
Willis Steele - Senior Manager, Eastern Region Advocacy Relations Team, Abbott
Magic & Abbott are Sponsoring HIV Testing Events in NYC
Mon 11/26 10am-4pm, at Iris House, 2271 2ndAve (116th St)
Thurs 11/29 10pm-2am, at GMAD Mobile Unit, 43rd Between 8th & 9th
Fri 11/30 10pm-2am. GMAD Mobile Unit Christopher bet. Hudson/west side Hwy
Fri 11/30 5pm-10pm, GMAD Mobile Unit, 35th bet 6th & 7th
Fri 11/30 9am-5pm, Iris House, 2348 adam Clayton Powell Blvd (137th)
Fri 11/30, 9am-5pm, at Palladia (drug rehab0, 360 West 125th St (St Nicholas)
Sat 12/1 11am-7pm, at harlem hospital, renaissance Clinic (mobile unit near Apollo)
Sat 12/1, time TBA, Harlem United, El Faro ADHC
HIV/AIDS is a growing crisis in the African-American community. Approximately half of the nearly 40,000 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in the United States occur among African Americans, who represent just 13 percent of the population. African-American women account for 66 percent of new HIV/AIDS cases among all women.
Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Abbott Announce First-Year Results of the "I Stand With Magic: Campaign to End Black AIDS" and Introduce New Focus on African-American Women
In Observance of World AIDS Day, Cookie Johnson, Wife of Magic Johnson, Will Discuss Her New Role to Educate African-American Women on HIV/AIDS; Celebrities Also Join Program
NEW YORK (Nov. 19, 2007) - Earvin "Magic" Johnson, the Magic Johnson Foundation and Abbott will mark the first anniversary of the "I Stand With Magic: Campaign to End Black AIDS" by announcing the program's first-year results and a new initiative with Cookie Johnson, the wife of Magic Johnson, to empower African-American women to stand up and protect themselves against HIV/AIDS.
The program, launched in December 2006, aims to reduce new HIV infections in the African-American community by 50 percent over five years. Approximately half of the nearly 40,000 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in the United States occur among African Americans, who represent just 13 percent of the population. African-American women account for 66 percent of new HIV/AIDS cases among all women.
In addition, the Magic Johnson Foundation and Abbott will:
-- Welcome celebrities from the film and music industries who are joining the "I Stand With Magic" program.
-- Sponsor free and confidential HIV testing, as well as celebrity concerts, in New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles in honor of World AIDS Day.
I Stand with Magic:
Campaign to End Black HIV/AIDS
The "I Stand with Magic: Campaign to End Black HIV/AIDS" was born from the unique commitments of one man and one company joining forces to address a serious concern in the African-American community in the United States. More than half of all new HIV infections in the U.S. are among African Americans1, and
they are seven times more likely to die of HIV-related illness than Caucasians2.
Abbott, a leader in HIV/AIDS research and therapies, saw the challenge in the African-American community and joined forces in 2006 with Earvin "Magic" Johnson and the Magic Johnson Foundation. Mr. Johnson is a former All-Star professional basketball player who announced he was HIV positive 15 years ago, and is a successful businessman and philanthropist. His foundation focuses on supporting community-based organizations and development programs that serve the health, educational and social needs of those residing in minority communities.
Starting the Partnership
The partnership between Abbott and the Magic Johnson Foundation was formed in 2006, with a focus on reaching youth, community leaders and organizations to help break down the cultural and social barriers to reduce the spread of HIV and help people get tested and treated.
Announcing The Campaign to End Black HIV/AIDS
I Stand with Magic: The Campaign to End Black HIV/AIDS, is a broader initiative between Abbott and the Magic Johnson Foundation with a bold goal to reduce the rate of HIV infection by 50 percent in the African-American community over five years by:
-- Raising awareness of the rise in new HIV infections in African Americans
-- Teaching vulnerable audiences about protective and preventative measures
-- Encouraging people to be tested for HIV/AIDS
-- Empowering people to seek treatment options
By working together, this partnership hopes to integrate education and empowerment into communities most vulnerable for new infections, while reducing the stigma of the disease. Nationwide, Mr. Johnson will be speaking with communities most at risk for contracting HIV. During meetings with leaders, church programs, women's programs, and community events he will speak about
his personal story of living with HIV and asking participants to take part in the "I Stand with Magic" campaign. Mr. Johnson hopes other groups and organizations will join the cause by:
- Encouraging a dialogue between patients and physicians about HIV
- Providing HIV educational materials for people in correctional facilities
- Supporting faith-based organizations to educate the community about HIV/AIDS
HIV/AIDS in the United States:
A Challenge for Minority Communities
HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects minority communities. Currently, more than 1 million people are believed to be living with HIV in the United States.1 Of the 38,730 people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in 2004, 70 percent were minorities.2 This represents a tremendous challenge given that only 33 percent of the population is non-Caucasian.3 And the challenge is growing. There are approximately 40,000 people diagnosed with the disease each year,
and half of all new HIV infections in 2004 were within the African-American community.4,5
HIV and Youth
- Half of all new HIV infections each year occur in people under the age of 25 years.6
- African Americans account for 66 percent of infections among those 13 to 19 years old.7
- Of the estimated 145 infants perinatally infected with HIV, 73 percent were African American.8
HIV/AIDS in African Americans
- The rate of AIDS diagnoses for African Americans is approximately 10 times the rate of Caucasians and almost three times that of Hispanics.9
- AIDS disproportionately affects African-American women, with a diagnosis rate 23 times that of Caucasian women.10
- In 2001, African-American females comprised 72 percent of all young women newly diagnosed with HIV between ages 13 and 19 and 66 percent of all young women newly diagnosed with HIV between ages 20 and 24 years.11
- Today, women account for more than one quarter of all new HIV/AIDS diagnoses, and women of color are especially affected by HIV/AIDS.12
HIV/AIDS Mortality
- In 2002 HIV/AIDS was among the top three causes of death for African-American men aged 25 to 54 years and among the top four causes of death for African-American women ages 25 to 54 years.13
- African Americans are seven times more likely to die from HIV-related illness than whites.14
- Women accounted for 27 percent of all HIV infections, while males accounted for 73 percent.15
Estimated AIDS Diagnoses & U.S. Population by Race/Ethnicity, 2003
African-Americans are disproportionately affected by AIDS compared to Whites and Latinos: 13% of the US population is African-American but 49% of the AIDS cases are African-American. While 69% of the US population is White and 28% of the AIDS cases are White; 14% of the US population is Latino and 20% of the AIDS cases are Latino.
Sources:
1, 2, 5, 8, 9, 10, 13: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV/AIDS Among African Americans (February 2006)
4, 6, 7, 11: Black AIDS Institute. Reclaiming Our Future: The State of AIDS among Black Youth in America (September 2005)
14: Black AIDS Institute Report. The State of AIDS in Black America: America's Interest is Waning
(February 2005)
4: Black AIDS Institute. The Way Forward: The State of AIDS in Black America (February 2006)
12, 15, 16: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. HIV/AIDS among Women Fact Sheet (April 2006)
3, 17: Kaiser Family Foundation Report. HIV/AIDS Policy Fact Sheet (September 2005)
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