What’s your Status?
By: Sen. Vincent Hughes  

          The HIV/AIDS epidemic has transformed from a disease of gay white men to a literal “black plague.”  HIV and AIDS is not only the most pressing problem in the African American community but its spread has been hastened by other outstanding problems: lack of access to healthcare, inordinate levels of incarceration and intravenous drug use, and lack of discussion.  This epidemic is deemed as the greatest public health crisis in our lifetime.

          In 2005 , the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported more than 1 million people are  infected with HIV in the United States.  The CDC also said 1 out of 4 people are unaware that they are HIV positive.  Monday, June 27^th is National HIV Testing Day.  Do you know your status?

           African Americans represent about half the HIV cases in the country yet make up 13% of the US population.   Here are some other statistics about the African American community and the HIV epidemic:

• Young African Americans represented 65% of AIDS cases reported amongst 13-19 year olds (Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation)

• The rate of AIDS diagnosed in 2003 in African American women was 25 times the rate for white women and 4 times the rate for Hispanic women in 2003 (John Hopkins University)

• AIDS is the#3 cause of death of African Americans between ages 25-34

• AIDS is the #1 cause of death for African American women ages 24-34

• Survival after an AIDS diagnosis is lower among African Americans than any other racial/ethnic groups

• One in 50 African American men and 1 in 160 African American women are HIV positive

          African Americans have been disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS since the epidemic’s beginning in 1981.  There is growing evidence that the HIV/AIDS epidemic is increasingly concentrated in low-income communities, thereby becoming a disease of the poor.

          With the face of HIV/AIDS changing, we are now seeing emerging trends. As a result of barriers to testing and care, African Americans with HIV are more likely to delay the testing are more likely to progress to AIDS and die sooner than Caucasians living with HIV. 

          Yet, a recent CDC study of over 9,000 patients in major U.S. cities found that HIV-infected African Americans were less likely than infected Caucasians to receive the life saving medications for HIV.  This fact further emphasizes the point that HIV testing is essential to your health.  This includes awareness and education to understand the transmission of HIV.   The sooner you know your status you can focus on your overall well-being and make responsible decisions to safeguard your health. 

          In addition, 11-18% of people living with HIV are over 50 years old.  Older adults with HIV face a unique set of challenges in accessing care and services.  Many health care and service providers--- as well as older adults themselves---do not realize that seniors are also at risk for HIV infection.  As a result, they are often reluctant to discuss or question matters of sexuality with aging patients.  Moreover, because HIV symptoms often are similar to those associated with aging (fatigue, weight loss, dementia, skin rashes, and swollen lymph nodes), misdiagnosis is frequent in older adults who are, in fact, infected. 

         The number of women in the United States acquiring HIV each year through unprotected sex is increasing. In 2003, heterosexual contact with an infected partner led to an estimated 79% of new HIV diagnoses.

          BEBASHI- Transition to Hope is an AIDS service provider located in North Philadelphia where AIDS cases are the highest in the city.  Founded in 1985 at the beginning of the epidemic, BEBASHI targeted African Americans with HIV/AIDS prevention messages.  The agency commemorates 20 years of service this year as the very first AIDS Service organization in the United States targeting the urban community.  BEBASHI serves over 15,000 Philadelphians annually. Although BEBASHI has grown to include a continuum of care ranging from outreach to direct service to research, BEBASHI’S work is far from over. The number growing people becoming infected are and needing care has grown exponentially. 

          On Friday, June 24^th, BEBASHI hosted Dancing in the Streets, an annual event that commemorates National HIV Testing day, at the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum.  Through unique events such as Dancing in the Streets we can promote culturally sensitive prevention messages and offer onsite rapid testing to our population.

          I am dedicated to finding new ways to increase awareness of this issue within the Pennsylvania legislature.  BEBASHI and other HIV service providers in the City of Philadelphia are dedicated to providing education and quality care to persons infected with HIV and those seeking prevention services. 

          Again, we are making plea for combined leadership not just from lawmakers and policy makers, but clergy, advocates and even people like you – individuals - who are willing to have a conversation about HIV and AIDS and make it a discussion we can talk about so that its not our little hidden secret.  We can win on this disease.  All we have to do is simply change our behavior.

          Remember HIV/AIDS is preventable!

          For more information on BEBASHI, contact www.bebashi.org or at 215-769-3561.  For more information on city wide HIV services and testing sites contact 1-800-985 – AIDS.

          Philadelphians, let’s bring this crisis to an end - get tested!