Event to inform females of risk

Miss Ohio 2004 is the guest speaker for the event.
WARREN -- In observance of International World AIDS Day, Trumbull County Area AIDS Task Force will host its annual commemoration Dec. 1.
The 14th annual event will begin with a 6 p.m. bring-your-own-beverage social hour followed by dinner, a program and fund-raising events at The Hippodrome, 150 High St.
The guest speaker will be Warren native Amanda Beagle, Miss Ohio 2004. Beagle will address the impact of self-esteem for making healthful choices to help prevent the spread of HIV. Music will be provided by Judith Minogue.
Tickets may be purchased in advance for $20 by calling (330) 307-4800, (330) 372-7181 or (330) 392-4438. They may also be purchased at the door for $25.
Targeting women
This year's World AIDS Campaign seeks to raise awareness about and help address the many HIV and AIDS issues affecting women and girls. Globally, young women and girls are more susceptible to HIV than men and boys, with studies showing they can be 2.5 times more likely to be HIV-infected as their male counterparts.
Their vulnerability is primarily due to inadequate knowledge about AIDS, insufficient access to HIV prevention services, inability to negotiate safer sex, and a lack of female-controlled prevention methods.
About half of all people living with HIV in the world are female.
Begun in 1988, World AIDS Day is an event to remind people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.
Locally, this work has been done for the past 14 years by the Trumbull County Area AIDS Task Force. This group, made up of volunteers, has no paid positions and receives no federal funding.
The task force relies upon donations to continue its missions of providing education, direct services and advocacy. The task force continually faces the challenges of these missions and has persisted, despite barriers such as the fluctuations in treatment options, financial burdens and social stigma.
Getting word out
Meetings, open to the public, are held at 4 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the American Red Cross Building, 660 Mahoning Ave.
By reaching out to the community, task force volunteers have been invited into schools, churches, prisons, extended-care facilities, clubs and organizations and have addressed diverse age groups and cultures to provide the facts regarding HIV/AIDS.
A speakers bureau is available to the public, based upon availability. Although, many cite the stigma associated with the subject and seek alternate ways of gaining information, such as hotlines, Web sites, and brochures.
The task force maintains a presence at several annual public events, such as Noon In The Park, and has free, factual, age-specific literature available.
In collaboration with the Youngstown Health Department, a free, anonymous HIV/AIDS testing site in Trumbull County is offered.
The task force is also proud to announce the commencement of a HIV/AIDS Support Group. It will meet at 7 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month in Mineral Ridge. The event is open to anyone living with HIV/AIDS, their families, friends and anyone interested in learning more about the disease.
Information regarding the testing site and support group may be obtained by calling (330) 399-AIDS.