A new New Orleans radio station is scheduled to hit the airways by World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, 2014.
WHIV 102.3 FM, will offer programming dedicated to human rights and social justice.
A party and fundraiser to celebrate its December launch takes place Oct. 14 with live entertainment by Al “Carnival Time” Johnson.
The non-profit New Orleans Society for Infectious Diseases Awareness (NOSIDA) was awarded an FCC license to construct the new low power radio station officially called Radio NOLA HIV. The community radio station’s signal range will cover the New Orleans metropolitan area.
The format of the station will include a morning show with local New Orleans and Louisiana news and current events. During evenings, weekends, and holidays, there will be local DJs spinning tunes highlighting New Orleans music and culture.
Dr. MarkAlain Dery, a professor with Tulane Medical Center whose research interests include antimicrobial resistance, infection control, and multidrug-resistant organisms, cofounded the NOSIDA.
NOSIDA’s mission is to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in New Orleans and Baton Rouge through the use of music. NOSIDA has hosted annual fundraisers at local nightclubs in New Orleans around World AIDS Day and also provides free and confidential HIV testing at these events.
Dr. Dery said, “We have purchased all the transmission equipment and may even have our tower, antenna, and transmitter in place long before our go-live date. Now, I am focused on fund raising for our broadcast equipment. WHIV will be community radio for the community of New Orleans. We are committed in making sure all voices will be represented on WHIV.”
Tuesday’s fundraising event will take place from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the home of Dr. Marc Behar at 1422 Jackson Ave. A $50 donation gives access to live entertainment by Johnson, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a silent auction.
Dr. Dery is also the medical director for the Tulane T-Cell Clinic, a community-based HIV clinic that is unique in that a majority of the clients are women and minorities. Passionate about HIV prevention and testing, Dr. Dery has been integral in producing the HIV Awareness Music Project, an annually occurring music festival that promotes HIV education, awareness and empowerment.
