Black Blogging To End AIDS - The Rising Epidemic
posted in Health, Social Commentary, Action Alert, youtube | | | View blog reactions | Print This PostA 2005 MSNBC article stated
“BOSTON - The HIV infection rate has doubled among blacks in the United States over a decade while holding steady among whites — stark evidence of a widening racial gap in the epidemic, government scientists said Friday.
Other troubling statistics indicate that almost half of all infected people in the United States who should be receiving HIV drugs are not getting them.
The findings were released in Boston at the 12th Annual Retrovirus Conference, the world’s chief scientific gathering on the disease.
Narrative at Black Women’s Health.com states
It is important to remember that African American women currently comprise the fastest growing segment of new AIDS cases in the United States (African American women represented 67% of AIDS diagnoses in women in 2005 per the US Center’s for Disease Control).
Furthermore, of the black women living with AIDS at the end of 2005, 66% acquired their infection through heterosexual contact, 31% through injecting drug use, and 2% through other or undetermined routes.
AIDS is now the leading cause of death for African American women, aged 25 to 44 years of age. (US Center’s for Disease Control).Worldwide, the numbers of HIV and AIDS are even more staggering, especially on the continent of Africa. As a community, we must remain vigilant in the fight against the spread of HIV and AIDS.
There’s a growing epidemic in our community, most of which could be stopped by reducing risky behaviors, or at least taking the highest precausions when engaging in sexual activity and IV drug usage.
Also being tested so that you don’t unwittingly pass it on to your partner or unborn children.
The institutions of the Black community, including civil rights organizations, Black churches, and Black elected officials have largely been horrid in addressing this issue. This must change.
While access medical care is a contributing problem that’s not a fight we can immediately when as it is the same health care fight that has been raging on in general. What we can change now is the lack of AIDS knowledge in our communities; because is the key.
All Black churches and civic groups should have some program to filter information out to their local community regarding how AIDS is transmitted and how it can be prevented. It is our duty to save ourselves
To get that understanding for yourself, watch this video from www.aidsvideos.org
Popularity: 6% [?]
Bookmark this story so others can enjoy it:
Related Posts:
