Feb. 11, 2008
(JACKSON, Miss.) - Jackson State University and its Global HIV/AIDS Alliance will host a Mississippi Development Cluster Summit on Tuesday, Feb. 19 at the Mississippi e-Center @ JSU.
The theme is "Leading through Partnerships."
GHAA, launched in 2006 in Hyderabad, India, is an international effort to reduce and eliminate the HIV/AIDS disparities of low-income, underserved historically marginalized populations. Clusters or groups have been established in a number of countries worldwide, including China, India and South Africa.
In addition to organizing Mississippians, the summit aims to organize services and resources available around the state and help create HIV testing sites on each of Mississippi's historically black college and university campuses.
"It is essential that we unite," said James Maddirala, associate vice president of academic affairs and student life. "Only together can we accelerate solutions to this pandemic.
"This is an important summit for everyone," he added, "facutly, students, staff, faith-based agencies, and government agencies."
Dr. Kevin Fenton, director, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will be the keynote speaker during the noon luncheon.
Jackson State President Ronald Mason Jr. will host a panel of HBCU leaders to discuss and identify resources on college campuses. Panelists will include David Beckley, Rust College; Roy C. Hudson, Mississippi Valley State University; Beverly Wade-Hogan, Tougaloo College; George Ross, Alcorn State University; and Rachel Gumbi, rector and vice chancellor, University of Zululand, South Africa.
Other confirmed speakers include F. E. Thompson Jr., state health officer, Mississippi Department of Health; James Hildreth, director, Center for AIDS Health Disparities Research, Meharry Medical College; and Marilyn Moering, executive director, Building Bridges - Campus Sexual Health.
For more information, call 601-979-2244.
