Stemming the Tide of Infection: Louisiana Event Raises Awareness
About HIV/AIDS Prevention May 4, 2011 More than 300 people took
part in the recent National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Red
Tent Event at New Orleans' McKenna Museum of African-American
Art. This was the second year for the gathering, which was
introduced by the Institute of Women & Ethnic Studies (IWES) in
response to the area's high rate of new HIV infections,
especially among women and African Americans. Attendees took
advantage of a wide range of wellness-related offerings. One
booth presented demonstrations on how to use condoms. Planned
Parenthood provided information about its services to prevent
STDs, while Common Ground Community Health Clinic distributed
brochures about local health care resources. So many people took
advantage of the offer of free HIV screening that the supply of
tests actually ran out, said Jennifer Glick, IWES HIV program
manager. The Red Tent events grew from the need to help people
cope with the stress and tr