HIV/AIDS RATES INCREASINGLY HIGH IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY
February 3, 2012
National Policy Office- Washington, DC: 202-835-8373
Program and Administrative Office- Tampa, FL: 813-258-5929
For Immediate Release: 2.3.12
Media Contact: Michelle Scavnicky, 813.258.5929, MScavnicky@TheAIDSInstitute.org
HIV/AIDS RATES INCREASINGLY HIGH IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY
Washington, DC– February 7th marks the annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD). This year’s theme 2012 theme “I Am My Brother’s/Sister’s Keeper: Fight HIV/AIDS”, emphasizes the importance of working together to fight HIV/AIDS and save our beloved families. NBHAAD targets awareness, education, prevention, and community mobilization initiatives in the Black community.
The most recent data and estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicate severe need for testing and treatment. There were a total of 1.2 million individuals living with HIV or AIDS in the United States in 2009, and over 500,000 were Black. Although Blacks represent only 14 percent of the U.S. population, they accounted for 44 percent of all new HIV diagnoses in 2009. This exemplifies the great disparity faced by the Black community compared to other racial or ethnic groups.
According to CDC, 1 in 16 Black men and 1 in 32 Black women at some point in their lifetimes will be diagnosed with HIV infection. Approximately 116,750 Blacks in the nation are unaware that they are HIV-infected. “The epidemic among black Americans is simply unacceptable,” said Michael Ruppal, Executive Director of The AIDS Institute. He added, “It is abundantly clear that we must intensify early testing and diagnosis.”
Michelle Scavnicky, Director of Education and Capacity Building Assistance Services at The AIDS Institute commented “HIV testing saves lives, allowing those who are infected to seek earlier, more effective care and treatment. It also helps reduce the rate of transmission from those infected to the uninfected.” Targeting awareness, education and HIV prevention efforts to those at greatest risk aligns with the National HIV/AIDS Strategy by addressing health disparities among minorities during the epidemic.
The founders of NBHAAD, Healthy Black Communities, hope that individuals will mark February 7th on their calendars as their annual day to get tested for HIV.
For more information on NBHAAD or on HIV/AIDS visit www.blackaidsday.org.
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The AIDS Institute is a national nonprofit organization that promotes action for social change through public policy research, advocacy and education.
For more information and to become involved in AIDS advocacy work, please contact The AIDS Institute at: (202) 835-8373, or by email at: Info@theaidsinstitute.org or www.TheAIDSInstitute.org