West Virginia University will observe national Black HIV /Aids Awareness and Information Day on Wednesday, Feb. 7, with a presentation and information display in the Mountainlair. The day is intended to bring focus on prevention issues, medical testing and treatment options, officials say.

Students from Alpha Phi Fraternity, Todays Youth and the Student Health Advisory Board (SHAB) will distribute literature and HIV /AIDS Awareness pins and posters in front of Hatfields in the Mountainlair from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Wednesday. A presentation and discussion will follow at 3:45 p.m. in the Lair Umoja Room.

AIDS kills more blacks than any other disease,according to Oswald Umuhoza, public health graduate student with the Student Health Services Health Promotion Program. Not only have African Americans been disproportionately affected by HIV /AIDS since the epidemics beginning, according to Umuhoza, but the disparity has deepened over time.

While 13 percent of the population in the U.S. is African-American, over half of all new HIV infections annually are among the black population, statistics indicate. Umuhoza cites access to health care and health insurance as factors that contribute to this disparity.

In addition to those listed, local sponsors of this event include WVU s Center for Black Culture and Student Health Service.

National spokespersons for National Black HIV /AIDS Awareness Day include NFL Coach Tony Dungy, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, and statesman and former Gen. Colin Powell. Info: 293-7181or visit online atwww.blackaidsday.org/.