June 9, 2009

Sistas Organizing to Survive Turns One

One year ago, black women and those who serve them converged on Orlando, Florida to participate in what has become a grassroots movement to mobilize Florida’s black women to join in the fight against HIV/AIDS.  The Sistas Organizing to Survive (S.O.S) Black Women’s Conference on HIV/AIDS was held on June 20, 2008.  During the two day conference women were empowered to talk about HIV/AIDS where they live, work, play, and worship.  They pledged to get tested and encourage other black women to get tested.  Most important, the goal was set to have 100,000 black women tested each year until 2010.  With goals set and women motivated, black women returned home and began organizing to survive. As we approach the one-year anniversary of the S.O.S. conference, it’s hard not to reflect on the many successes that have come from the conference and mobilization efforts.  Unfortunately, despite the successes, there is still much work to be done.  In 2008, the AIDS case rates among black women were 20 times greater than the rate among white women, and seven times greater than the rate among Hispanic women.  For 16 consecutive years HIV/AIDS has been the leading cause of death among black women aged 25-44 years in Florida. These statistics makes it even more important to maintain the goal of having 100,000 black women tested each year until 2010.  Although we have been successful in our efforts of getting black women to get tested for HIV, we cannot become complacent and allow the momentum to die.  We must continue to promote testing and keep S.O.S. alive. In celebration of the one-year anniversary of the S.O.S. Conference and mobilization initiative, the S.O.S. Black Women’s Advisory Group is asking black women around the state to join them in getting tested and to “Take a Sista to Get Tested”.  It is their goal to have 500 black women tested on June 20, 2009.  Last year, the journey began and we continue to travel along the path of mobilizing and empowering black women to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS.  Join the S.O.S. Black Women’s Advisory Group in making the statement that black women’s lives are worth saving.