APICHA CO-SPONSORS EXHIBIT FOR ARTIST & AIDS ACTIVIST NICCOLO COSME

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 5, 2012

Exhibit at Philippine Center Shines a Light on HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Philippines

New York, NY – APICHA Community Health Center proudly co-sponsored the opening reception of “Resplendor: The Blinding Light,” which took place at 6pm on Friday, August 31 at the Philippine Center in Manhattan. This powerful exhibit features the work of Filipino artist Niccolo Cosme, whose photographs use traditional Christian iconography to reflect the experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS in the Philippines. Attendees at the reception included Philippine Consul General Mario de Leon and Senior Adviser at UNAIDS Ninan Varughese, both of whom gave speeches on the importance of the exhibit to raising awareness around HIV/AIDS in the Philippines, New York City, and around the world.

“As an artist, I have understood that we need to create something that can make people feel the urgency to move and to respond,” explains Cosme. “For me, visual and auditory symbols facilitate a call to action for intensified advocacy on HIV and AIDS.”

The exhibit comes at a time when the number of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in the Philippines is increasing at rates higher than any other period in the country’s history. Since 2007, HIV infections rates have increased fivefold, with up to 10 new cases reported each day and about 300 new cases reported each month. In fact, just last June, the Philippine National AIDS Council reported a staggering 295 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses nationwide – a 66% increase from one year prior.

“The epidemic cannot be treated with silence.  Turning our eyes away from HIV/AIDS is not good public health policy,” explains APICHA’s Chief Executive Officer Therese R. Rodriguez. “Niccolo’s work is an expression of leadership.  Above all, we salute his creativity.”

“Resplendor: The Blinding Light” will be in New York from August 27-September 7 with support from APICHA Community Health Center. It is also made possible by 2Go Travel and 2Go Express in cooperation with Kalusugan Coalition and Filipino American Human Services, Inc. (FAHSI).

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If you would like more information on APICHA Community Health Center or the opening reception for “Resplendor: The Blinding Light,” please contact Rafael Flores, Public Affairs Coordinator, at (646)884-5385 or rflores@apicha.org.

ABOUT APICHA
Founded in 1989, APICHA provides comprehensive primary care and other medical services including mental health, STD, Hepatitis, and enabling services targeted to Asian & Pacific Islanders, the LGBT community, and individuals living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Over the last twenty two years, APICHA has grown from a grassroots HIV prevention-focused organization into a patient-centered medical home which has been recognized with the highest level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home qualification by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Last year, APICHA has served over 2,600 patients, mostly people of color, LGBTQ and low income individuals in New York City. APICHA is staffed with a multi-lingual, multi-cultural staff fluent in 21 languages including various Asian languages, Spanish, Romanian, Italian and American Sign Language. It has recently opened its doors to a Trans Health clinic, which addresses the specific medical needs of people of the trans experience, including individuals who identify as transgender, gender variant, gender queer, or gender non-conforming.

For more information, please visit www.apicha.org