February 7 Is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
The Tennessee Department of Health joins the nation in recognizing Thursday, February 7 as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. As part of this annual health observance, TDOH urges all sexually active Tennesseans, not just minorities, to know their HIV status.
“Getting tested for HIV/AIDS is the most crucial element in preventing this virus and linking people to helpful resources and assistance,” said Cherry L. Houston, PhD, MPH, RN, director of the Division of Minority Health and Health Disparities Elimination. “HIV/AIDS impacts minorities disproportionately, so it is especially important for early knowledge of one’s HIV status so the process of counseling and treatment can begin.”
In an effort to increase the number of people who know their status, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has funded a new HIV testing initiative to test 1.5 million individuals and identify 20,000 infected persons who are unaware of their status. The State Department of Health’s HIV/AIDS/STD program and the Division of Minority Health and Health Disparities Elimination are pleased to announce that Tennessee received $955,000 in funding through this initiative. DMHHDE will begin a social marketing campaign in early spring to encourage African-Americans to know their status by getting tested for HIV, and the HIV/AIDS/STD program is finalizing contracts to increase HIV rapid testing in a number of health care settings in Memphis and Nashville.
“We want to de-stigmatize HIV testing by equipping medical providers with the tools needed to make HIV testing and prevention education a routine part of medical care,” said Jamie Russell, director of HIV/AIDS/STD Prevention Services. “The ability to know a person’s status in 20 minutes increases the likelihood of getting that person connected to medical care, significantly improving medical outcomes for those infected with HIV.”
Once perceived as a white, gay male-oriented disease, HIV/AIDS has spread across boundaries of gender, sexual preference, race and ethnicity over time. As of December 31, 2006, African-Americans represented 56 percent of all Tennesseans living with HIV/AIDS while making up only 17 percent of the state’s population. The rate of HIV/AIDS infection for this group is 11 times higher than reported cases among Caucasians. And of deaths among persons with HIV/AIDS in 2006, African-Americans comprised an overwhelming majority of 67 percent.
Due to this health disparity, the theme of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day this year is “Prevention is Power: Get Educated. Get Tested. Get Involved. Get Treated.” The goal is to motivate African-Americans to know their HIV status by getting tested for HIV, to get educated about the modes of HIV transmission, to become involved in their local communities and to be treated if they are currently living with HIV or are newly diagnosed.
Free HIV testing is offered in county health departments and community-based organizations across the state. For information on NBHAAD activities or locations where you can get tested, call the HIV/AIDS Hotline at 1-800-525-2437.