World AIDS day was celebrated in Fall River on December 1, 2008, with ceremony at Gromada Plaza in front of Government Center. Dozens of people gathered at noon to mark the 20th anniversary of the worldwide event. According to Fall River Health and Human Services Director Henry Vaillancourt, M.D., 226 persons in the City have died of AIDS. He cautioned that as many as 21% of people with HIV, which leads to full-blown AIDS if left untreated, are unaware that they have the disease. Connie Rocha-Mimoso of Seven Hills Behavioral Health stated that more needs to be done to increase awareness and to get people into treatment. The program will continue with a reading of a HIV awareness statement on December 2nd and a candlelight vigil from Government Center to Sociedade Cultural Acoriana on Wednesday evening. Seven local organizations, including Citizens for Citizens Family Planning, Family Services Association, the May Institute, Stanley Street Treatment and Resources, the Seven Hills Behavioral Health, Mayor Robert Correia's Office, and Steppingstone Inc., assisted in planning the three-day event which included a flag-raising and balloon launch. Click here read the Herald News article about the event. Click here to see the awards ceremony. Click here to see photos from last year's event. For more information, contact the STEP Outreach Center at 508-235-1012.
 

(Top row, left) City Health and Human Services Director Dr. Henry Vaillancourt gives some of the statistics describing the toll of HIV/AIDS nationally and in Fall River as Mayor Correia listens. (Top row, center) Participants release red balloons in front of Government Center. (Top row, right) Sarah Jeffries, Family Planning's Making Proud Choices director Anne Medeiros and Jessica Pereira hold a banner made by Durfee High School art students as Mayor Correia makes some remarks. (Middle row, left) Volunteer Albon Barcia and Family Service Association staff member Barbara Fontaine listen intently. (Middle row, right) Fall River City Councilor Cathy Ann Viveiros and Municipal Employee Wellness program coordinator Julie Kelly listen to remarks by Connie Rocha-Mimoso. (Bottom row, left) Flint Council on Aging Director Susana Ponte and SSTAR employees Christine Swist and Leonor Luz hold red balloons during the ceremony. ( Bottom row, center) Fourteen-year-old Colton hoists one of the World AIDS flags over Gromada Plaza. (Bottom row, right) Government Center custodian Hank Medeiros releases a dozen pigeons at the end of the ceremony.