staten island steps up

On Thursday the Staten Island Ryan White HIV CARE Network launched its "Staten Island HIV Status Check Campaign". The campaign is designed to promote HIV testing among residents of Staten Island, and features a snazzy postcard that has information about free local testing centers. The postcard is available in English and Spanish, and will be distributed by local businesses and organizations along with HIV-related education literature and condoms.

A coordinator for the campaign, Karina Ryan, noted that 56% of Staten Island residents have never been tested for HIV. She also notes that while Staten Island has the lowest rate of infection of the five boroughs, it also has the highest HIV-related mortality rates. As with everywhere, Hispanics and blacks are disproportionately affected by the disease, comprising 19% and 50% new diagnoses in 2007 respectively, despite representing only 12% and 10% of the Island population.

For the campaign, the CARE Network is working with the Black Leadership Commission on AIDS and the City Council's Communities of Color Faith Initiative.