Group Raises Awareness About AIDS

HOUSTON - A Houston AIDS prevention organization held a health fair Wednesday that coincided with National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

AIDS Foundation Houston educates young women on the dangers of unprotected sex and the necessity to get tested for HIV.

Young African American women are especially vulnerable to HIV infection, according to the organization's Vice President of Prevention Services.

Nike Luken says "black women between the ages of 25 and 34, HIV is the leading cause of death for them."

An 18-year-old HIV-positive Houston woman says most teenage girls don't believe the disease can strike them.

Destiny Maddox contracted HIV when she was only 14 from a 29 year old man.

Maddox says she was one of those teens who never thought about AIDS.

"The doctor came into the room and said I had HIV and I said you must be kidding, maybe you have the wrong girl," Maddox recalls.

AIDS Foundation Houston will host a fundraising walk this Sunday morning at Sam Houston Park.