AIDS Forum Today

A free luncheon today (Friday, Dec. 1, 2006) will feature education on the ongoing AIDs problem in Plainfield, which is among the 10 most affected communities in New Jersey.

The luncheon is from noon to 2:30 p.m. in City Hall Library, 515 Watchung Ave. and is sponsored by the Hyacinth AIDS Foundation, the mayor’s office, the Plainfield Health Division and Gilead, a pharmaceutical company.

Prevention Case Manager Lola Taiwo said the event will include presentations on AIDS and HIV prevention as well as statistics on local AIDS cases.

According to state statistics, the estimated number of people living with AIDS or HIV in Union County is 2,473. The total number, living or deceased, is 4,955 as of June 2006.

In 1997, the number of people in Union County living with HIV or AIDs was 1,722.

Click here to see a detailed state report on HIV/AIDS in Plainfield.

Minorities currently account for 75 percent of HIV/AIDS cases and 31 percent of all cases are women, according to state statistics.

The event marks World AIDS Day and is aimed at increasing awareness of the problem.

--Bernice Paglia