African-American women are 23 times as likely as white women to be diagnosed with AIDS. Tragically, HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death for women in our community ages 24 to 35. More than 70 percent of all new female diagnoses of HIV/AIDS in the United States occur among African-American women. These facts are all the more shocking because we have known for 20 years that HIV/AIDS is a completely preventable disease. While abstinence is the only sure way to stop the sexual transmission of HIV, we know that the correct and consistent use of condoms dramatically reduces the risk of infection. We have the tools to fight HIV/AIDS. What we still lack is knowledge within our community to protect African-American women against this disease. To raise awareness about HIV and other health disparities affecting African-Americans, the NAACP this year issued a "Call to Action on Health," a comprehensive plan to mobilize all members of our community in the struggle for better health care. The NAACP also recently distributed "Women Like You!" --- a DVD and discussion guide designed to inform women about HIV/AIDS. African-American women have struggled to overcome social, political and economic injustice, and they have been central to our swift and community-wide effort to confront prejudice and discrimination.