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| February 7 is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day |
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by Trina Scott, Senior Program Manager, Young Women of Color Empowerment National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a national HIV testing and treatment community mobilization initiative targeted at Blacks in the United States and the Diaspora. Watch and share the video on how young people can get involved and protect themselves, after the jump. We’ll also be tweeting facts and resources throughout the day to #NBHAAD – follow us and re-tweet! African Americans/Blacks experience disproportionate rates of HIV and AIDS. In their lifetimes, 1 in 16 Black men and 1 in 32 Black women will be diagnosed with HIV; and African Americans make up 14% of the population but account for 44% of all new HIV infections. Why the disproportionate rates? “ Blacks do not engage in more risky behavior than members of other racial/ethnic populations. Many of the factors that place blacks at higher risk for chronic diseases also place them at increased risk for HIV. For example, social and economic realities prevalent among blacks—such as higher levels of poverty, racial discrimination, limited access to health care and housing, and higher rates of incarceration—are associated with increased HIV risk.” In fact, studies have found that African Americans are more at risk for HIV and STIs even when they have the same or fewer risk behaviors. So what will turn the HIV epidemic around for African Americans? It will take a combination of approaches. That’s why there are four focal points of this year’s NBHAAD: education, testing, involvement, and treatment.
“Educationally, the focus is to get Blacks educated about the basics of HIV/AIDS in their local communities. Testing is at the core of this initiative, as it is hoped that Blacks will mark February 7th of every year as their annual or bi-annual day to get tested for HIV. This is vital for those who are sexually active and those at high risk of contracting HIV. When it comes to community and organization leadership, getting Blacks involved to serve is another key focus. We need Black People from all walks of life, economic classes, literacy levels, shades and tones as well as small and large communities to get connected to the work happening on the ground in their local areas. Getting those living with HIV or recently-tested positive for the virus connected to treatment and care services is paramount. We have learned that you can't lead Black people towards HIV/AIDS education, prevention, testing, leadership or treatment unless you love them. And, we can't save Black people from an epidemic unless we serve Black people. ” Advocates considers redressing HIV disparities among African Americans to be one of our most important goals and a vital part of advocating for young people’s reproductive and sexual health. Through policy initiatives and through our work with the Young Women of Color Leadership Council and the Youth of Color Initiative, Advocates supports policies and programs which will not only provide young African Americans with the information and tools they need to protect themselves from HIV, but help dismantle structural barriers to prevention and treatment (including poverty, racism, and unequal access to information, employment and health care). Check out and share our resources on youth of color and HIV, including: Youth of Color—At Disproportionate Risk of Negative Sexual Health Outcomes Young African American Women and HIV Advocates’ Research Guide: the Reproductive and Sexual Health of Youth of Color And don't forget to watch the video, share the video, like on Facebook, follow, and retweet!
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