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CHARLESTON – The S.C. Department of Health & Environmental Control is partnering with African-American churches in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties to celebrate the Black Week Church of Prayer for the Healing of HIV/AIDS with a variety of activities.

The week will kick off with a March 1 concert at Graham AME Church on Wappoo Road in Charleston. The concert will feature the combined Citadel Gospel Choir and One Accord of Shiloh Seventh-day Adventist Church. The St. James Presbyterian Church Men’s Choir and the Graham AME Church Male Choir will also participate.

“The Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of HIV/AIDS is a powerful week of prayer, education and action,” said Catherine Lamkin, director of health education for DHEC’s Region 7 which serves Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties. “This national awareness campaign engages black congregations to support, encourage and empower African-Americans to take action toward stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS in black communities worldwide.”

Lamkin said that of newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases in the three counties over the past two years, over 60 percent were among African-Americans.

“The African-American faith community serves as a powerful vehicle for change in helping to eradicate this epidemic,” she said.

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Events Calendar

March 1, 2008

• Free HIV Testing
  Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church
  7392 Rivers Avenue
  North Charleston, S.C. 29406
  Rev. Dr. Augustus Robinson, Jr.
  9:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m.
• Kick Off Concert
  Graham AME Church
  1124 Wappoo Road
  Charleston, S.C.
  Rev. Deborah P. Carter
  5:00 p.m.

March 2, 2008

• Prayer Service 
  Life Center Cathedral Prayer
  7190 Cross County Road 
  Bishop Brian Moore
  11:30 a.m.
• Prayer Service
  Mother Emanuel AME Church
  110 Calhoun Street
  Charleston, S.C.
  Rev. Stephen Singleton
  7:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
• Prayer Service
  Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church
  7392 Rivers Avenue
  North Charleston, S.C. 29406
  Rev. Dr. Augustus Robinson, Jr.
  8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
• Prayer Service
  Charity A.M.E. Church
  2093 Cainhoy Road
  Huger, S.C.
  Rev. Dr. Betty Deas Clark
  10:00 a.m.
• Prayer Service
  Central Missionary Baptist Church
  125 Richland Avenue
  Summerville, S.C.
  Rev. Byron Foster
  10:00 a.m.
• Prayer Service
  Graham AME Church
  1124 Wappoo Road
  Charleston, S.C.
  10:00 a.m.

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