Atlanta, Ga. (October 18, 2003) -- More than 100 pastors, deacons and other church leaders gathered in Atlanta, Georgia on October 18th to attend a unique pilot program to help guide religious leaders in the ongoing battle against HIV/AIDS. The one-day workshop, "Successful Ministry in the Age of AIDS", medically certified participants in prevention and outreach techniques to more effectively address the continuing impact of HIV/AIDS on the African American Community.

"The Church has the power, prestige and position to get the job done," said Former Surgeon General, Dr. M. Joycelyn Elders during the keynote address. Elders also urged the Church "to stop moralizing to the pulpit and preaching to the choir, but instead go out to the streets and act with mountain-moving faith to make significant headway in stopping the spread of this disease."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV/AIDS is striking African-American communities at such frightening proportions that HIV/AIDS may very well become the leading cause of death among persons of color within a generation. Although African Americans make up 12 percent of the population in the United States, African-American men account for 43 percent of HIV cases reported among men in 2001 and African-American women accounted for nearly 64 percent of HIV cases reported among women in 2001.

The program, created by Minority Health Care Communications, Inc, and sponsored by Abbott Laboratories, is a response to the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS in the African American community. "As a leader in HIV/AIDS for close to 20 years, Abbott is committed to supporting community-based initiatives, like this one, designed to reach at-risk populations with critical information on HIV prevention, testing and treatment," Jesus Leal, divisional vice president and general manager of Virology at Abbott Laboratories. "We are proud to support this initiative as part of our ongoing commitment to improving the lives of those impacted by HIV."

The interactive conference was specially designed to assist Faith Based leaders and health care ministers in identifying the spiritual and medical needs of HIV affected African-American Communities across the United States. During the workshop, participants discussed the challenges of battling HIV/AIDS in the African American community, explored methods to enhance outreach efforts and learned about the new medicines that are available to help combat HIV/AIDS. Medical professionals were on-site to ensure that workshop content was grounded in science and informed by the latest theories and research.

"The African American community cannot afford to turn a blind eye," said Robert Fullilove III, Ed D, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. "Local churches can no longer afford to be silent or inactive about AIDS." Fullilove also noted the importance of this workshop saying that it's critical that church leaders have the necessary tools to make an impact in their community. Fullilove also issued a challenge to the assembled group, saying if it isn't in the church's hands to help us achieve a victory against AIDS, whose hands are left?
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