NRHA Releases National PSA in Response to HIV Rates in Rural Communities of Color

The National Rural Health Association Releases a National Public Service Announcement in Response to the Increasing Number of HIV/AIDS Cases in Rural Communities of Color

11/30/2004 4:29:00 PM

To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor

Contact: Rosemary McKenzie of the National Rural Health Association, 816-756-3140; Web: http://www.nrharural.org

News Advisory:

-- The National Rural Health Association Releases a National Public Service Announcement in Response to the Increasing Number of HIV/AIDS Cases in Rural Communities of Color

WHO: The National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is a non- profit association whose mission is to improve the health of rural Americans and to provide leadership on rural issues through advocacy, communications, education and research.

WHAT: The NRHA, with support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of HIV/AIDS Policy (OHAP), will produce and distribute the audio Public Service Announcement (PSA), "HIV/AIDS and Rural Communities of Color." The PSA targets African-American adults living in rural cities across the nation, in order to raise awareness of the devastating impact that HIV/ADS is having on rural communities of color nationwide. The NRHA hopes this message will also encourage rural healthcare professionals to make HIV/AIDS testing more accessible to their patients as a part of their routine medical practices.

WHEN: The audio message will be distributed nationally following World AIDS DAY, which is observed annually on Wednesday, December 1.

WHERE: The distribution will predominately include African- American gospel and news-talk radio stations in southern and Mid- western states.

WHY: HIV/AIDS is devastating rural communities of color nationwide. According to the CDC, "Recent statistics show a rise in the number of cases that have been reported in rural areas. In 2001, 7.6 percent of reported AIDS cases were from rural areas (i.e., non-Metropolitan Statistical Areas),i -- a rise from the 6 percent overall figure since the epidemic's start."

According to a recent report published by the NRHA, "In nearly every rural region of the nation, African American and Hispanic AIDS cases are disproportionately greater compared to their representation in the local general population." The report also states that, "the NRHA affirms that education is fundamental to the prevention, control, and treatment of HIV/AIDS."

The NRHA, in partnership with DHHS, Office of HIV/AIDS Policy, plans to focus more attention on the needs of persons residing in rural communities in the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS throughout the coming year.

i -- CDC. HIV/AIDS Surveillance in Urban and Non-urban Areas L206 slide series (through 2001). http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/graphics/rural-urban.html.

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