WORLD AIDS Day theme to focus on females

Miss Ohio Amanda Beagle will keynote the Mahoning Valley's observance.
The changing face of the AIDS epidemic in the nation, the world and the Mahoning Valley will be recognized this week at World AIDS Day observances.
Women, and primarily black women, now rank as the fastest-growing segment of those infected with the disease, according to United Nations. The U.N. estimates show women are now 2.5 times more likely to be HIV-infected than men.
Theme
That's why "Women, Girls, HIV and AIDS" has been selected as the theme of the 14th annual observances Wednesday.
Locally, Miss Ohio Amanda Beagle will lead the Valley's World AIDS Day ceremonies at a dinner sponsored by the Trumbull County Area AIDS Task Force. The task force includes Trumbull, Mahoning, Columbiana and Jefferson counties.
Beagle's keynote address will focus on the impact of positive self-esteem on making healthful choices to help prevent the spread of HIV.
The observance at The Hippodrome, 150 High St. N.E. in downtown Warren, will begin at 6 p.m. Wednesday with a bring-your-own-bottle social hour, followed by the dinner, program and fund-raising activities for the task force.
For reservations and tickets, call the TCAATF at 307-4800 or 392-4438. Tickets are $20 if purchased in advance; $25 at the door without a reservation.
According to Michael Whitney, president of the TCAATF, the task force specializes in education and advocacy for AIDS victims. It also provides food, utility help and other direct support to about 200 people with AIDS and HIV and their families in the Valley.
Local clients range from young children to people in their 50s, Whitney said.
He added that another way in which AIDS has changed in recent years is that it no longer carries "a death sentence." A variety of costly drugs enables many people with HIV to live much longer. The task force, however, receives no public funding and cannot offer its clients financial aid for retroviral drugs.
The group relies solely on contributions of food to fill its pantry in Warren, and cash donations. Tax-deductible contributions may be made to the TCAATF and sent to the task force, P.O. Box 1638, Warren, 44482.
People wishing to volunteer for the TCAATF can attend meetings the third Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. at the American Red Cross building, 660 Mahoning Ave. N.W., Warren, at 4 p.m.
The task force also provides free and anonymous HIV/AIDS tests in conjunction with the Youngstown Health Department and sponsors a support group for AIDS/HIV victims, their families and anyone interested in learning more about the disease. The meetings are in Mineral Ridge the second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.
Call 399-AIDS for more information on the testing site and support group meetings.
Mahoning County
In Mahoning County, the Ursuline Sisters HIV/AIDS Ministry distributed Thanksgiving turkey dinners for about 200 people last week. The ministry distributes food regularly, holds monthly dinners for people with AIDS/HIV, operates a medical clinic and staffs a home in Youngstown with programming for children infected and affected by AIDS, according to Sister Kathleen Minchin, director of the ministry.
She said the changing face of AIDS is also visible in the ministry's programming. "Today about 50 percent of the people we are dealing with are women and children," she said.
Those interested in supporting any of the ministry's programs can send checks to Ursuline Sisters HIV/AIDS Ministry, Ursuline Motherhouse, 4250 Shields Road, Canfield. Donors can specify how they wish their contribution to be used, she said.