To continue to raise awareness and increase education and HIV testing, Suffolk County Legislator Manuel Esteban Sr, Esq. (R-Commack) this week sponsored legislation designating the month of December as “HIV/AIDS Awareness Month” in Suffolk County
“The public can never forget the impact HIV/AIDS has had across the globe, and it is imperative to keep the issue alive,” said Esteban. “Working with the not-for-profit organization Thursday’s Child, we are hoping to let those who are living with HIV that there are resources to help them, and also to remind every person to test for HIV.”
to help increase awareness and support those living with HIV, to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS related illness, to remind the public and government that HIV has not gone away and that there still is a vital need to raise money for this cause.
Legislator Esteban partnered with Gregory Noone, the executive director of Thursday’s Child, to provide key information when drafting the bill. Thursday’s Child is an organization that develops, coordinates, and provides services to people living with and affected by HIV and AIDS on Long Island. Thursday’s Child actively advocates on behalf of those dealing with this disease, and the benefits that should be provided to them.
“It may seem like a small step, but establishing HIV/AIDS Awareness Month in Suffolk County is an important step to continuing educating the public about the virus,” said Noone. “On behalf of the clients, staff, and Board of Thursday’s Child of Long Island, I am honored grateful to Legislator Esteban and the members of the Suffolk County Legislature for their support.”
“I believe in helping others, and when I learned about Thursday’s Child and their mission, I wanted to help them continue to shed light on HIV/AIDS awareness, education and assistance to those affected,” said Esteban.
To learn more about Thursday’s Child, visit https://thursdayschildofli.org/.