In Honor of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Tyler LePard

February 7th is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD). African Americans are still disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. Though they make up 13% of the U.S. population, they account for 50% of the new HIV/AIDS diagnoses (according to the Centers for Disease Control and the 2000 Census). In 2002, HIV/AIDS was the number one cause of death for African American women aged 25-34 years.

February 7th is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD). African Americans are still disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. Though they make up 13% of the U.S. population, they account for 50% of the new HIV/AIDS diagnoses (according to the Centers for Disease Control and the 2000 Census). In 2002, HIV/AIDS was the number one cause of death for African American women aged 25-34 years.

This year's theme is "The Time to Deliver is Now!" and www.blackaidsday.org has a great public service announcement with prominent African American speakers (including Barack Obama) — along with more statistics, testing information, action kit, a blog, and information about events organized in the U.S. and around the world.

The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) and The Campaign to End AIDS (C2EA) organized joint advocacy actions leading up to today. Check out pictures at C2EA's blog.

On Monday, NMAC held a press conference at the National Press Club to announce the formation of the National Minority HIV/AIDS Policy Partnership (read the press release as a PDF). Damon Dozier, NMAC's Spokesperson and Director of Government Relations and Public Policy, stated:

The devastating impact of this epidemic across minority communities – African American, Latino, Native American and Asian – requires a strong, united and national response. This new policy partnership promises to be a dynamic and powerful advocacy voice to improve HIV awareness, prevention, and access to care in the nation's minority communities.

In addition to NMAC, the new advocacy coalition will include the following organizations:

  • National Council of La Raza
  • NAACP
  • Rainbow/PUSH
  • National Urban League
  • ACLU
  • Indigenous Peoples Task Force
  • Asian American Justice Center
  • United Church of Christ
  • Asian and Pacific Islander American Health Forum
  • The League of United Latin American Citizens Partner to Promote Action on AIDS in America's Minority Communities

For more information, check out NMAC's new report: African Americans, Health Disparities and HIV/AIDS: Recommendations for Confronting the Epidemic in Black America.