Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Director of the Department of Health and Community Wellness Dr. Hanaa Hamdi, and representatives from Emmis Communications’ Hot 97 launched the “Newark Getting to Zero” initiative to raise HIV awareness, in a City Hall press conference today.

The campaign will drive efforts towards zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths, and zero stigma and discrimination for those living with HIV/AIDS in the City of Newark and runs from July 25 through September 18, 2016.

“HIV and AIDS have created great tragedy and suffering for Newark residents and their families for decades. It has also created an unfair stigma that prevents those living with HIV/AIDS from living with the dignity and respect that all our residents deserve,” Mayor Baraka said. “We are determined to eliminate this scourge from our neighborhoods, and this partnership with Hot 97 will raise awareness among residents of how they can protect themselves from being infected, get tested, end the unfair stigmas, and most importantly, crush this disease in our City. The approach of using culture and art is innovative and an opportunity to reach thousands of people with a message we all need to hear I thank Hot 97 for joining our efforts.”

Mayor Baraka was joined by members of the Newark Municipal Council and representatives of organizations that already provide HIV/AIDS testing and counseling in the city, including the Department of Health and Community Wellness, Rutgers School of Medicine, NJCRI, La Casa De Don Pedro, SMMC Peter Ho Clinic and Hyacinth AIDS Foundation. The breadth of representation is indicative of the widespread commitment to the goals of the “Newark Getting to Zero initiative.”  Representatives from the Ryan White Program and the Newark EMA HIV Health Services Planning Council were also in attendance.

The City of Newark and the Department of Health and Community Wellness Ryan White Program are partnering with Emmis Communication Hot 97 Radio to bring the HIV/AIDS conversation to the fore. Native Newarker and popular Hot 97 media celebrity, DJ Wallah, will launch the campaign as he literally takes the HIV/AIDS conversation to the street.

Today, an estimated 5,830 Newarkers are living with an AIDS diagnosis. A further one in eight individuals is not even aware of his/her positive status. New Jersey has been at the frontline of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment and this Newark initiative complements efforts at the state and national level.

Dr. Hamdi placed the Newark campaign in the larger context of National HIV/AIDS strategy introduced by the Obama administration in 2010 and updated in 2015, citing the vision of the national strategy with which “Newark Getting to Zero” aligns.

“Newark will become a place where new HIV infections are rare and when they do occur, every person regardless of age, gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or socioeconomic circumstances will have unfettered access to high-quality, life-extending care, free from stigma and care,” she said.

The campaign runs from July 25 through September 18, 2016. Several sites throughout the City, including the city’s Mary Eliza Mahoney Health Center now offer free rapid HIV testing. During the campaign, Newarkers will be encouraged to access these services. As an incentive to encourage young Newarkers to get tested, there is an opportunity to win two tickets to the Drake and Future concert being held at the Prudential Center in October 2016. The winner’s name will be announced at the end of the campaign.

Free HIV testing sites will be set up at six sites across the City.

FREE HIV TESTING SITES

Department of Health and Community Wellness

Special Care Clinic

394 University Avenue, Newark

1-800-734-7083

NJCRI

393 Central Avenue, Newark

(973) 483 – 3444

La Casa de Don Pedro

76 Clinton Avenue, Newark

(973) 624 – 4222

Rutgers Ambulatory Care Center

140 Bergen Street, Newark

(973) 972 – 9827

Rutgers STOP Program

65 Bergen Street, Newark

(973) 972 – 8216

St. Michael’s Medical Center

Peter Ho Clinic

211 Martin Luther King Blvd, Newark

(973) 877 – 5525/5532