New Birth to host World AIDS + HIV Awareness Sunday, partners to provide free testing and more

STONECREST, GA — New Birth Missionary Baptist Church will host World AIDS + HIV Awareness Sunday on Dec. 7 at 9:30 a.m. The church is partnering with Healthy MD and others to provide free HIV testing, wellness screenings, take-home testing kits, and onsite education. 

Led by the New Birth Health Ministry, the event addresses the urgent and ongoing HIV epidemic that continues to disproportionately impact Black and Brown communities across Georgia and the United States.

“Our responsibility as a church is to help protect the whole person,” said Jamal Bryant, Senior Pastor of New Birth. “Far too many of our brothers and sisters are living with HIV without access to testing, treatment, or the resources they need. WORLD AIDS + HIV AWARENESS Sunday is our commitment to confront stigma, expand access to care, and stand with our community in truth, compassion, and action.”

More than 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV, and an estimated 13 percent do not know their status. Although Black and Hispanic individuals make up just one-third of the nation’s population, they account for more than 65 percent of new HIV diagnoses, reflecting persistent systemic inequities in access to healthcare, prevention tools, and early detection.

According to statistics, Georgia consistently ranks among the top states for new HIV diagnoses, with rates nearly twice the national average with the Atlanta metro area remaining one of the hardest-hit regions nationally. In the South, where poverty rates, healthcare shortages, and stigma remain elevated, communities experience nearly half of all new HIV infections in the U.S.

“Many individuals in minority communities face significant barriers, including limited access to affordable testing, lack of transportation, misinformation, and fear of stigma,” added Dr. Bryant. 

These realities underscore the importance of community-centered testing and outreach efforts like those led by New Birth.

To meet these needs, New Birth is partnering with leading public-health organizations to host a robust slate of onsite services, including three mobile HIV testing units, free take-home HIV testing kits and confidential counseling and educational resources

Participating community partners include: HealthyMD, DeKalb Public Health, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition (BLACC), AID Atlanta

Following worship service, attendees can visit the “Ask the Doc” station, allowing participants to anonymously submit health questions related to sexual wellness, HIV prevention, treatment options, or available local support services. A licensed medical professional will address selected questions live, helping to dispel myths, reduce stigma, and empower attendees with medically accurate information.

EVENT DETAILS

WHAT:
World AIDS + HIV Awareness Sunday
Free HIV testing, wellness screenings, resources, and “Ask the Doc” health Q&A stations

WHEN:
Sunday, Dec. 7, 2024; 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (screening and resources will be provided after service)

WHERE:
New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, 6400 Woodrow Road, Stonecrest, GA