we’d rank #16 in the world for the number of men and women with HIV/AIDS, according to the Black AIDS Institute. Today’s New York TImes reports that if Black America were it’s own country, we’d rand 105th on life expectancy. This is a real problem.
Nearly 600,000 African-Americans are living with H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS, and up to 30,000 are becoming infected each year. When adjusted for age, their death rate is two and a half times that of infected whites, the report said.
I mean, really? How do people get AIDS anymore? (don’t answer that). And it gets worse,
The Black AIDS Institute took note of that program in criticizing the administration’s efforts at home. The group said that more black Americans were living with the AIDS virus than the infected populations in Botswana, Ethiopia, Guyana, Haiti, Namibia, Rwanda or Vietnam — 7 of the 15 countries that receive support from the administration’s anti-AIDS program.
Why do we have a better grip on AIDS as an international problem than a domestic one? Why is there plan? Why are there no goals? (don’t answer those either) The AIDS epidemic in this country really gets me worked up. While attend grad school I interned at an Infectious Disease (read: AIDS) clinic. I handled intake for the newly infected, and it was not easy. Everyone was brown, granted I was in the Bronx, but it was really disheatening. Old women, young men, pregnant women, people who felt they couldn’t share their status with anyone.
I’m going to have a Bill Cosby moment and say “Come on people!” We need to get it together because this disease is wiping us out.
The federal government and communities needed to promote more testing among all people, particularly blacks, to detect H.I.V. infection in its earliest stages when treatment is more effective, Dr. Gayle said.
I read that quote and then I read what YBPG had to say about trying to get tested and all I can do is roll my eyes. I had a similar experience that last time I went to get tested for HIV. Essentially I was told that I didn’t need to be tested but I insisted. Yeah telling Black people to not get tested will REALLY lower the AIDS rate. *rolls eyes*
The article continues on and talks about the need to promote needle exchange programs – this is sounding so CNN Black in America right now. How about promoting healthy dialogs with sexual partners? How about promoting HIV tests when men are released from prison?
</steps off soap box>
To read the full report, click here.
For more depressing statistics about AIDS in the Black community, check out the CDC website.
Want to get tested? Click here to find testing site locations nationwide.
peace,
e.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I just heard on the news today that one of the prisons in my area is going to start distributing condoms to the inmates to try to cut down on STIs.
We’ve currently been discussing the glamorization of AIDS in our society in one of my classes. Since folks are living longer with the disease now people tend to not think of AIDS as such an epidemic, which is clearly not wise. That’s just one of the theories as to why people continue to be infected.
it’s about time they distributed condoms in prison. that will definitely help, but why are we so reactive. i mean, come on, men have been having sex with men in jail since forever. just b/c you tell me it’s against the rules doesn’t it mean it’s not going happen. whomp whomp.
yeah that’s the thing. in the 80′s you saw people looking like death and that was the face of AIDS. now when i see these billboards for AIDS i’m like “dang he is FINE!” *sigh* i’m down for scare tactics because too many people feel invincible.
Yeah, there are definitely no scare tactics being used for AIDS prevention these days. The AIDS campaigns need to be just as “in your face” as anti smoking aids and campaigns.
Curious if you all had heard about the “Bronx Knows Initiative”:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/ah/bronx_test.shtml
Just launched last month, this is a city initiative to get every single Bronx resident tested and aware of their HIV status.
Say what you will about Bloomberg, but I think the man has put NYC’s right foot forward on a lot of issues, and this is one of them [and a great follow up to the NYC Condoms initiative].
This should have been happened long ago. We have to truly know the problem before we work to solve it. Hopefully this effort to make HIV testing a routine part of primary health care will spread beyond the Bronx and into other cities.
hey Manny, yeah i’ve def heard of it and it’s not surprising. the AIDS rate in the bronx is pretty ridiculous. i hope they can get a handle on it.