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Churches
Look at Drugs, HIV/AIDS |
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Six District-area
churches have opened "conversation centers" where persons with substance
abuse problems or HIV/AIDS
and their families can seek counseling, testing, referrals or education
materials. The centers aim to address what D.C. Health Department Director
Gregg A. Pane called "two of our biggest health problems in the District
today."
Though many churches are hesitant to create ministries dealing with HIV/AIDS
or substance abuse, they should play an active role in prevention and
treatment, said the Rev. Sterling Tucker of Trinity Development Corporation,
a nonprofit that handles program funding. It is important "to invite the
religious community to be more actively involved in the issue of HIV/AIDS
because unless that community embraces all of us. we'll have a difficult
time" addressing these issues, he said.
The Rev. Stephen Tucker, pastor of New Commandment Baptist Church in
Northwest, which operates a counseling center, said the initiative's intent
is not to condemn those seeking help or preach about morality or sin. It
also will not be past-oriented, he said. "It's what we're going to do now."
D.C. Council Chairperson Vincent C. Gray (D-At Large) lauded the initiative.
"The reality is we have got to do as much as we can," he said. "The rate of
transmission between young people is incredibly alarming," he added, noting
that the city is actively promoting HIV/AIDS prevention. On June 27,
National HIV Testing Day, the District launched a new youth-oriented HIV
education campaign.
In addition to New Commandment, churches with counseling centers are:
Covenant Baptist Church, on South Capitol Street Southwest; First Baptist
Church, on Randolph Street Northwest; Israel Baptist Church, on Saratoga
Avenue Northeast; Johnson Memorial Baptist Church in Southeast; and Trinity
Episcopal Church on Piney Branch Road Northwest.
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Washington Times
(06.29.07):: Natasha Altamirano |
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We are providing the above information as a public
service only. Providing synopses of key scientific articles and lay
media reports on HIV/AIDS, other sexually transmitted diseases
does not constitute endorsement. The above summaries were prepared
without conducting any additional research or investigation into the
facts and statements made in the articles being summarized, and
therefore readers are expressly cautioned against relying on the
validity or invalidity of any statements made in these summaries. This
CDC HIV/STD/TB Prevention News
Update also includes information from CDC and
other government agencies, such as background on MMWR articles, fact
sheets and announcements. |
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