National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is February 7

Atlanta, GA–(ENEWSPF)–February 4, 2013.

African Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that they accounted for nearly half (44%) of all new infections in 2010, despite making up only 14% of the population. This represents a rate that is eight times as high as that of whites.

Most of these infections are in African American men, most of whom are men who have sex with men (MSM). Young black MSM, in fact, account for more new infections than any other subgroup by race/ethnicity, age, and sex.

While African American women also continue to be far more affected by HIV than women of other races/ethnicities, recent data show early signs of an encouraging decrease in new HIV infections. CDC is cautiously optimistic that this is the beginning of a longer-term trend.

Today, we have many more opportunities than ever before to reduce the burden of HIV that African American men, women, and young adults bear. Working together with state and local public health agencies, African American communities, and other partners in the public and private sectors, CDC continues to address the HIV epidemic in African American communities.

One of these efforts is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day , directed, planned, and organized by a group of organizations that partner with CDC to mobilize communities across the country to fight HIV and lessen its impact on African American communities.

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was started 13 years ago to mobilize people in African American communities to

Get educated about the basic facts on HIV and AIDS.
Get tested for HIV. Knowing your status saves lives!
Get involved to raise HIV awareness and fight stigma about HIV.
Get treated if living with HIV or newly diagnosed.

The theme for 2013, I Am My Brother’s/Sister’s Keeper: Fight HIV/AIDS, emphasizes that all African Americans, regardless of sexual orientation, economic class, or educational level, can be an important part of the solution to the HIV epidemic in African American communities.

Why Do African Americans Face a Higher Risk of HIV Infection?

Research shows that African Americans do not engage in riskier behavior than members of other racial/ethnic groups. However, there are many social and economic barriers that can increase the risk of HIV.

The higher the proportion of people living with HIV in a community, the greater the risk with each new sexual encounter of having a sexual partner who has HIV.
Higher rates of other sexually transmitted infections can increase the chance of getting and spreading HIV.
Social and economic realities—such as poverty, racial discrimination, limited access to health care and housing, and incarceration—are associated with increased risk of HIV.
Stigma, fear, and silence can increase the risk of HIV while decreasing the willingness to get support, get tested, and get treatment, if needed.

What Is CDC Doing About HIV in African American Communities?

CDC supports a wide range of prevention efforts across the United States for women, men, and at-risk youth that are conducted by health departments, national and community-based organizations, and other organizations. Here are some of the many activities focused on preventing HIV among African Americans.

Phases of the Act Against AIDS (AAA) campaign deliver messages about HIV infection for African Americans; for example,
- Take Charge. Take the Test. encourages African America n women to get tested for HIV.
- Testing Makes Us Stronger is aimed at increasing HIV testing among black gay and bisexual men.
- Let’s Stop HIV Together, the newest AAA campaign, fights stigma and raises general awareness.
The Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative (AAALI) is a partnership between CDC and many of the country’s leading organizations that represent the populations hardest hit by HIV. AAALI was formed to strengthen HIV prevention efforts in black communities and then expanded to include organizations that focus on black MSM and the Latino community.
The Care and Prevention in the United States (CAPUS) Demonstration Project supports eight demonstration projects to increase testing, linkage-to-care, and prevention services for racial and ethnic minorities.
Starting in 2012, CDC awarded $339 million—its single largest investment in HIV prevention—to health departments in states, territories, and select cities to support the goals of High-Impact Prevention [PDF – 260KB]. These prevention efforts will be targeted to the communities most affected by HIV.
CDC’s second Expanded Testing Initiative will increase HIV testing among African Americans and Latinos, as well as MSM and injection drug users of all races and ethnicities.
In September 2011, CDC funded 34 community-based organizations to expand HIV prevention services over 5 years for gay, bisexual, and transgender youth of color and their partners.
The MSM Testing Initiative is an HIV testing and linkage-to-care program that will identify
HIV-infected MSM who were previously unaware of their infection and link them to HIV medical care and treatment.

What Can You Do?

Learn about HIV and AIDS. Educate yourself, friends, and family about HIV and AIDS and what you can do to protect yourself.
Get tested for HIV. To find a testing site near you, call 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636), visit the National HIV and STD Testing Resources website, or, on your cell phone, text your ZIP code to KNOW IT (566948).
Speak out against stigma, homophobia, racism, and other forms of discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS.
Donate time to HIV and AIDS organizations that work in African American communities.

What Can Community Organizations Do?

Promote National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) within your business, church, or other organization, by downloading the NBHAAD toolkit . HIV awareness and testing events can provide important information that people can use to protect their health and the health of their loved ones, and to get involved.
Educate your organization about HIV and AIDS and encourage staff and members to get involved in NBHAAD activities.