On Tuesday, Nov. 18, the Charles County Board of Commissioners proclaimed Monday, Dec. 1 as World Aids Day in Charles County.  We encourage residents to be become educated on AIDS and HIV by attending the upcoming World Aids Day events.  The Charles County Department of Health will conduct on-site HIV screenings.

Monday, Dec. 1
New Life Church, (9690 Shepherds Creek Place, La Plata)  7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
HIV/AIDS spokeswoman Kimberly Canady Griffith from Love Heals, the Alison Gertz Foundation for AIDS Education, is a featured presenter. She will share her personal story of learning she had AIDS at the young age of 10.
Free HIV testing is available during this event.

Tuesday, Dec. 2
College of Southern Maryland, (8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata, BI Building, Room 113E)  2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Love Heals Speakers Niko Flowers and Douglas Hill will share their story of learning they were HIV positive while attending college. 
Free HIV testing is available from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. (BI Building, Room 101)

Thursday, Dec. 4
College of Southern Maryland (8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata)
Free HIV testing is available from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (CC Building, Room 100A)

Thursday, Dec. 18
LifeStyles (101 Catalpa Drive, #103, La Plata)
Free HIV testing is available from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Point of Change Jail and Street Ministry Inc. began the HIV/AIDS awareness program after discovering that Maryland’s correctional system has one of the highest rates of HIV/AIDS cases in the United States. There are approximately 35 million people living with HIV/AIDS globally, and nearly 36,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Maryland. Although there is no cure for HIV, effective treatment with antiretroviral drugs can control the virus so that people with HIV can enjoy healthy and productive lives.

Makeba Clay from the College of Southern Maryland, a World Aids Day event partner said, “HIV/AIDS is a silent killer; providing students, faculty and staff the opportunity to hear from young adults who are HIV-positive puts a face on the epidemic. It is our responsibility to provide the information so that people can live lives of prevention, and in the event they or family members are impacted they can understand the role of an advocate.”