Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital to Host World AIDS Day Observance

HOUSTON (Nov. 26, 2008) – Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, State Representative Al Edwards, Harris County Commissioner El Franco Lee, Stephen H. DonCarlos, chairman of the Harris County Hospital District Board of Managers and mayor of the City of Baytown, and David S. Lopez, president and CEO of the Harris County Hospital District, will speak at a ceremony recognizing the victims of HIV/AIDS at noon Monday, Dec. 1 at Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital, in observance of World AIDS Day. 

Located in northeast Houston and Harris County, the area of town has been cited for its high prevalence of HIV/AIDS cases. A number of city and county efforts are underway in the area to stave off the high incidence of sexually transmitted diseases, as well as HIV/AIDS infections.  

This is the second year the Harris County Hospital District's World AIDS Day activities have been hosted outside of Thomas Street Health Center, the district's hub for HIV/AIDS services and care. Organizers hope that moving the events to LBJ will enable them to educate more people about HIV/AIDS and foster a greater awareness of the disease.    

Those attending the ceremony will have a chance to place holiday ornaments on a “Tree of Remembrance” during the program to honor friends, family members and loved ones who have been affected by HIV/AIDS. The public is also invited to attend a two-hour informational health fair or get free, confidential HIV testing. 

WHAT:             World AIDS Day and Tree Decorating Ceremony 

WHEN:             noon – 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 1  

WHERE:           Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital, 5656 Kelley St., Houston, 77026
                        Executive Parking Lot at northwest side of hospital 

The Harris County Hospital District is the public health care system for the nation's third most populous county. It provides more than one million health care visits each year to uninsured, underinsured and medically needy residents of Harris County. It operates three major hospitals, 12 community health centers, 13 homeless shelter clinics, eight school-based clinics, a dental center and five mobile health units.