Headlines

June 25, 2009

Free Hip-Hop Concert in Houston For Those Who Get Tested For AIDS...

Houston Chronicle | Read Full Story >

Houston Chronicle:

Free hip-hop concert tickets are being used to try to lure thousands of Houston young adults to get tested for HIV.

The Houston health department, along with community health agencies, will try to screen a record 15,000 people during a marathon testing event over the next three weeks.

“We’re really looking to reach an unprecedented number of youth,” said Beau Mitts, program manager of the health department’s HIV, STD and viral hepatitis prevention bureau. “As far as we know, this is the largest undertaking of any mass HIV testing event in the United States.”

The goal — targeted to National HIV Testing Day on Saturday — is to screen 1,200 people daily from today through Thursday at the NAACP Family Technology Center and another 10,000 in the next two weeks at Planned Parenthood, St. Hope Foundation and other partner agencies.

Everyone who receives the tests, one hour of education and their results will get tickets from KBXX-FM (97.9, The Box) to a July 11 concert at the George R. Brown Convention Center featuring former Destiny’s Child member LeToya Luckett, Port Arthur’s Bun B and a lengthy roster of performers.



Click Here