Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD: “There is more work to do”
From
Stephen Hug
 |
| RI Health Dept Director Nicole Alexander-Scott |
The
state’s top public health official is providing leadership for the annual AIDS
Walk RI, happening Sunday, September 13.
Nicole
Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, who was appointed the state’s director of public
health earlier this year, will be an honorary chair of the event, which starts
and ends on the Rhode Island State House lawn.
Registration begins at noon,
with a speaking program, including Dr. Alexander-Scott, at 12:30. The
approximately two mile route steps off at 1 p.m. Registration is also
available on-line at firstgiving.com/aidswalkri.
“From
2013 to 2014 in Rhode Island, the number of newly identified cases of HIV
increased by nearly 33%. These data send a clear signal that despite the
progress we have made in reducing HIV over the years, there is more work to
do,” she said.
“We are fortunate in Rhode Island to have great partnerships
among state agencies and community-based organizations like APRI to continue
our efforts to educate, test, and treat for HIV. The data remind us that we
cannot become complacent.”
Joining
Dr. Alexander-Scott as honorary chairs are NBC 10 reporter and anchor Mario
Hilario and Dr. Philip Chan, director of the HIV/STD Prevention Clinic at the
Miriam Hospital Immunology Center.
Participants
in the walk raise critical funds for public awareness, advocacy, testing and
comprehensive services for people living with HIV/AIDS. “Our goal is to raise
awareness along with raising funds,” he said.
AIDS
Care Ocean State, a sister AIDS service organization, is teaming up as a full
partner in AIDS Walk RI this year. “We are pleased to join forces with
AIDS Project Rhode Island to make AIDS Walk RI 2015 one of the best in the
event’s three-decade history,” said AIDS Care Ocean State executive director
Paul Fitzgerald. He noted that this year’s theme is “Keeping Hope Alive.”
Free,
fast, anonymous HIV testing will be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., there
will be a performance from the Providence Gay Men’s Chorus, the AIDS Quilt will
be displayed, and there will be free food and activities.
Event
sponsors include Cardi’s Furniture, CVS Health, Miriam Hospital/ a
Lifespan Partner, Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI, United Healthcare, the City of
Providence, MetLife, McLaughlin & Moran, NBC 10, GoLocalProv, 94 HJY
and Coast 93.3 radio, Latino Public Radio, WBRU, Poder 1110, Latina 100.3, WJFD
and WUMD.
More
information about AIDS Project Rhode Island, a division of Family Service of
Rhode Island, and AIDS Care Ocean State is available at www.aidsprojectri.org and www.aidscareos.org.