Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity's Omicron Iota Sigma chapter supports World AIDS Day
The Brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc, Omicron Iota Sigma Chapter supported World AIDS Day events at California State University, San Marcos - CSUSM - Wednesday December 1st, 2010. Omicron Iota Sigma chapter has coordinated and participated in HIV/AIDS awareness activities as part of the Sigma Wellness initiative, Conversations Among Brothers. CSUSM has commemorated World AIDS Day since 2005 with free HIV testing, HIV/AIDS Awareness seminars and presentations, speakers and a candlelight vigil. Wednesday's events - spearheaded by administrators, faculty members, the local community and LGBT student groups - included spoken word performances by students who shared or read stories that illustrated the horrifying impact HIV/AIDS has had in many families and communities.
According to AVERT - an international HIV/AIDS awareness charity - World AIDS Day started on 1st December 1988 as a means of raising money, increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. The World AIDS Day theme for 2010 is 'Universal Access and Human Rights'. World AIDS Day is important for reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done. According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.3 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children. During 2009 some 2.6 million people became newly infected with the virus and an estimated 1.8 million people died from AIDS.The vast majority of people with HIV and AIDS live in lower- and middle-income countries. But HIV today is a threat to men, women and children on all continents around the world.
The Fraternity realizes the need to leverage the power of peer interaction and actively engage young people in their educational efforts in a way that goes well beyond typical initiatives like lectures and traditional programs. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity wishes to directly involve young people in a peer-to-peer way which adds energy and momentum to the educational efforts and objectives as set forth in this new initiative. For more Information contact Anthony Winston III at Anthony.WinstonIII {at} yahoo(.)com or visit the Omicron Iota Sigma chapter Web site at http://www.omicroniotasigma.org/
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