The MOCHA Center, Inc.
Events
The MOCHA Center and the Rochester Victory Alliance Observe HIV Vaccine Awareness Day
May 18th is HIV Vaccine Awareness Day (HVAD). This annual observance is a day to recognize the contributions of thousands of volunteers, community members, health professionals, scientists, and governments who are committed to working together to find an HIV vaccine. Results of a recent vaccine trial and related follow-up studies have provided a promising way forward in the search for an HIV vaccine. In addition, other biomedical HIV prevention strategies such as microbicides, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and treatment as prevention have also shown great promise. While no single prevention strategy will end HIV/AIDS, HVAD underscores the importance of developing a safe and effective vaccine – our best hope to ending the epidemic. As the scientific community forges ahead in pursuit of an HIV vaccine, a variety of prevention approaches, treatment of those who are already infected, as well as community support and engagement remain essential to controlling the virus.
In observance of HIV Vaccine Awareness Day, The MOCHA Center will join our bio-medical research partner on the Be The Generation Bridge Grant, The Rochester Victory Alliance, to present:
“Vaccine Awareness Day at Cathode Ray Nightclub” on Thursday, May 17, 2012 8:30pm—11:30pm at Cathode Ray, 25 Allen Street, Buffalo, NY 14202.
“Vaccine Awareness Day at Tilt Nightclub” on Friday, May 18, 2012 from 9:00pm—Midnight. Tilt Nightclub is located at 444 Central Avenue, Rochester, NY 14605.
Please refer to our Buffalo Press Release and Rochester Press Release for more information.
BTG Bridge Community Forum: HIV Vaccine Trials 101 with the MOCHA Center and the Rochester Victory Alliance
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National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day – March 10, 2012
The MOCHA Center is joining the Office on Women’s Health (OWH), within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in taking action against HIV/AIDS. Let us pause today and focus on the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls in our nation.
On March 10th, 2012, we celebrate National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, which is a nationwide observance to raise awareness of the increasing impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls and empower people and communities to take action. This National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, OWH is partnering with the Greater Than AIDS campaign and asking, “What’s your deciding moment?” According to Greater Than AIDS, deciding moments are everyday opportunities to take action against HIV, whether it is getting tested, talking with friends and family, using condoms, practicing abstinence, or taking medications as directed.
Since our inception in 1996, when the MOCHA Center was founded as the Men of Color Health Awareness Project, which specifically addressed HIV/AIDS health concerns that were affecting gay men, we have grown into a center of information, services, advocacy and much more. We have also significantly increased the number of people we serve by including more young people and women through our expanded programming.
The MOCHA Center encourages you to reach out to the women and girls in your families and communities, dialogue about HIV/AIDS, and encourage each other to get tested for HIV or seek medical treatment if HIV positive. HIV impacts us all and we have a community obligation to share knowledge and reduce HIV transmission risks.
In addition to the many HIV prevention programs and services for People Living with HIV/AIDS, the MOCHA Center is also a partner in the Be The Generation Bridge campaign. Our biomedical researcher partners, The Rochester Victory Alliance and the New York City HIV Vaccine Trials Unit, will be collaborating with various Community Based Organizations in Buffalo, Rochester and New York City to increase knowledge of biomedical HIV prevention research. We need more people of color engaged in biomedical HIV clinical trials — HIV Vaccine Trails, HIV Prevention Trials and Microbicides Trials. These initiatives are at the cutting edge of new tools to use in the prevention of HIV.
The MOCHA Center encourages you to participate in the various programs and services in Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls, and New York City. The first bi-monthly Be The Generation Bridge Community Forum will be on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 – 4:00pm – 6:00pm at Highland Family Medicine, 777 South Clinton Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620. In partnership with the Rochester Victory Alliance, the forum will discuss HIV Vaccine Trials 101. We will also have bi-monthly community forums in New York City and Buffalo and those events will be posted on our website as well.
For more information on National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and how you can take action, visit womenshealth.gov/nwghaad. To find county and state data about HIV/AIDS, please visit womenshealth.gov/quickhealthdata. To learn more about the MOCHA Center and our programs and services, please visit www.mochacenter.org.
