By Ryan Ngala
[Harlem, New York] - What a gorgeous sunny day it was in the
heart of the Harlem community many people gathered
at the Fred Samuel playground located on 140th
Street at Malcolm X Boulevard. I
saw many of them wearing tee-shirts, both in black and white, that read “Faith Walk Twenty Thirteen: Promoting
Awareness in communities of color,” both in
black and white as they registered
online at EventBrite.com; their names were added to the list as they signed in.
People were representing
their churches and organizations in the neighborhood including Abyssinian
Baptist Church, Abyssinian Development Corporation, African-American Muslim
Commission On HIV / AIDS, Bethany Baptist Church, Canaan Baptist Church of
Christ, Church of the Intercession, Coalition On Positive Health Empowerment
[Cope Health], Community Health and Awareness Ministry, Inc., Convent Avenue
Baptist Church, East Ward Missionary Baptist Church, First AME Bethel Church,
First Corinthian Baptist Church, FOY HIV / AIDS Ministry [Mt. Calvary Baptist
Church], Iris House - A Center For Women Living With HIV / AIDS, Inc., Love
Alive International Foundation, Inc., Masjid Sabur Worship, Educational and
Referral, New Mount Zion Baptist Church, New Hope Community Church, New
Testament Baptist Church, Paradise Baptist Church, Rivers of Living Faith
Ministries, St. John’s Baptist Church, and St. Luke’s AME Church and Survivors Fountain of Hope
Wellness Initiative.
When they were about to leave the park, many people were holding up their banners and
signs with slogans such as, “Get Yourself
Tested”, “Engage, Educate, Prevent” and “Twenty Thirteen Harlem HIV / AIDS
Faith Walk.” The marchers also got wristbands
with the words, “Know Your Status.” This march was
a major event being sponsored by The Harlem Hospital Center, NYC Council Faith
Based Initiative, The National Black Leadership Commission Aids, Inc., and many
more.
When the march began the participants walked throughout the streets chanting “HIV, Get Tested!!!” and “Wake Up Harlem.” They
also sang a couple of gospel songs along the way. I joined the
marchers as they started to walk towards 125th Street to go to the Harlem State Office
Building where the health fair was being held.
We walked the red carpet to where there was a worship service with special guest
speaker Bill Thompson sending a strong message that the disease of HIV / AIDS
must come to an end! He raised
awareness about young people in our
communities getting the disease and
not even knowing, If they are positive.
There are so many ways to get the disease: sexual contact, drug use, occupational contact with
the virus. It is so important that young people should: Get Educated,
Get Tested, and Get Involved. Many people decided to go to HIV Testing and
get started with their National HIV Testing Day Health and Resource Fair
Passport 2013, which they carried with them to each table to have to get the names and signatures
of people who want more information on Diabetes, Hepatitis C, as well as information about the FDNY
Application and Iris House. Those who were able
to collect a total up to twelve signatures or
more received a special gift. Refreshments
including hot dogs, ice cream and bottled water were provided.
