By 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Washington, Thursday, February 7, 2008 — African Americans account for almost half the number of people living with HIV/AIDS but represent only 13 percent of the population. Today civil rights groups, health care professionals and AIDS awareness workers are observing National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day hoping to draw attention to what the Centers for Disease Control calls an urgent situation.
Among Black Americans, men continue to bear the greatest burden of HIV. In 2005, the rate of HIV diagnosis among black men was nearly seven times higher than that of white men, with black gay and bisexual men representing more than half of all diagnoses.
African American women also are severely affected with an HIV diagnosis rate in 2005 more than 20 times that of white women.
A report issued last month by the New York City Health Department shows that HIV mortality is still concentrated among NYC's minority populations, with roughly 34 percent of HIV deaths occurring among black men and 21 percent among black women. Eleven percent of HIV deaths occur among white men and 3 percent among white women.
The key to reducing HIV/AIDS among African Americans is education said Dr. Kevin Fenton, Director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention at the CDC.
"Today, at events across the nation, CDC and African American leaders from all walks of life, including business, civil rights, entertainment, government, and media, are speaking out and taking action. We encourage every African American to ACT — through increased Awareness, Communication, and Testing — against the HIV crisis in the black community. In doing so, we can overcome the stigma continuing to surround this disease, and encourage African Americans to get educated, get involved, get tested, and get treated," Fenton said in a statement.
The statement said that the CDC considers HIV/AIDS among African Americans to be a priority.
Fenton said that in 2007, more than half of CDC’s domestic HIV prevention budget — approximately $300 million — was spent on addressing HIV in the African American community.
©365Gay.com 2008
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