In the United States, every 9 ½ minutes, someone is infected with HIV. Recently released data supports 1 out of 16 Black men will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime.
It’s time to ACT.
From the NYC Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene:
June 24, 2009
Health Department Announces 28% Increase in HIV Testing Since Launch of “The Bronx Knows” Initiative One Year Ago
HIV testing initiative is more than half way to meeting its three-year goal of helping 250,000 Bronx residents learn their status
On June 24, the Health Department and community partners will gather at the New York Botanical Garden to celebrate the anniversary of “The Bronx Knows,” a boroughwide HIV testing initiative launched one year ago. Participating clinics, hospitals and community organizations have improved HIV testing by approximately 28% since the initiative began, and have provided voluntary tests to nearly 160,000 Bronx residents in the past year, including many of the 250,000 who have never been tested before. The event honors the agencies and community partners that have worked together to reach this benchmark
www.nyc.gov/bronxhivtesting
http://www.nyc.gov/condoms
News Updates
Many U.S. Residents Test Positive For HIV Late In Illness, Few High School Students Being Tested, CDC Reports Find
HIV testing in U.S. often performed late | Health | Reuters
Source: www.reuters.com
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – An analysis of data from 34 states suggests that many people still do not undergo HIV testing until late into the course of infection, when treatments may have limited effectiveness.
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Congress Must Extend the Ryan White CARE Act Immediately
The current Ryan White CARE Act sunsets on September 30, 2009. That’s just 6 weeks away.
The Ryan White Program provides essential medical and support services to hundreds of thousands of individuals each year. The services are a critical part of our HIV health care safety net. Congress must extend the Ryan White Program as a Stand-Alone bill by September 30, 2009 to avoid gaps in coverage.
This moment is critical. Your letter will make a difference.
Together the HIV community has reached a broad consensus for a three-year extension of Ryan White. Please join AIDS Action in urging Congress to take action and support the community consensus document by CLICKING HERE.
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My name is Cyrille Phipps and I’m the Producer/Director of the documentary Seen, But Not Heard: AIDS, Sexual Politics and the Untold War Against Black Women.
June 27th, was National HIV Testing day and while its important to use such a day to encourage action, everyday needs to be a testing day.
The Kaiser Foundation reports that the “sense of urgency” about AIDS has fallen dramatically in the Black community.
In response to the Kaiser survey, I’m launching an effort entitled “Seen, But Not Heard: Everyday,” through my new website for my documentary of the same title, Seen, But Not Heard.
For the entire month of August, I’m asking everyone who visits the site to take an HIV test (even if they have already taken one within the year) as well as invite 10 friends, family members and co-workers to get tested. As people join us, I am also asking them to report back here: http://theuntoldwar.urbanmediawarrior.com/everyday-report-back/
I hope you can join me in this effort, because I believe an HIV test is a powerful first step towards HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. Whatever the results may be, it gives an individual the opportunity to start or continue practicing safe sex, encourages others to do the same and if necessary seek treatment.
Read the rest of this entry »
My name is Cyrille Phipps and I’m the Producer/Director of the documentary Seen, But Not Heard: AIDS, Sexual Politics and the Untold War Against Black Women.
June 27th, was National HIV Testing day and while its important to use such a day to encourage action, everyday needs to be a testing day.
The Kaiser Foundation reports that the “sense of urgency” about AIDS has fallen dramatically in the Black community.
In response to the Kaiser survey, I’m launching an effort entitled “Seen, But Not Heard: Everyday,” through my new website for my documentary of the same title, Seen, But Not Heard.
For the entire month of August, I’m asking everyone who visits the site to take an HIV test (even if they have already taken one within the year) as well as invite 10 friends, family members and co-workers to get tested. As people join us, I am also asking them to report back here: http://theuntoldwar.urbanmediawarrior.com/everyday-report-back/
I hope you can join me in this effort, because I believe an HIV test is a powerful first step towards HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention. Whatever the results may be, it gives an individual the opportunity to start or continue practicing safe sex, encourages others to do the same and if necessary seek treatment.
Read the rest of this entry »
Seen, But Not Heard is a short documentary that will explore the historical antecedents, current trends, and emerging activism concerning HIV/AIDS and women of African decent.
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STATISTICS :: HIV/AIDS in 2005
* Since the beginning of the epidemic, blacks have accounted for 397,548 (42%) of the estimated 952,629 AIDS cases diagnosed in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
* Of all black women living with HIV/AIDS, the primary transmission category was high-risk heterosexual contact, followed by injection drug use.
*Black women are most likely to be infected with HIV as a result of sex with men who are infected with HIV . They may not be aware of their male partners’ possible risk factors for HIV infection, such as unprotected sex with multiple partners, bisexuality, or injection drug use . Sexual contact is also the main risk factor for black men. Male-to-male sexual contact was the primary risk factor for 48% of black men with HIV/AIDS at the end of 2005, and high-risk heterosexual co ntact was the primary risk factor for 22%.
In 2004 (the most recent year for which data is available), HIV infection was:
* the leading cause of death for black women (including African American women) aged 25–34 years.
* the 3rd leading cause of death for black women aged 35–44 years.
* the 4th leading cause of death for black women aged 45–54 years.
* the 4th leading cause of death for Hispanic women aged 35–44 years.
Last Modified: August 3, 2008
Last Reviewed: August 3, 2008
Content Source:
Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention
National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY: (888) 232-6348, 24 Hours/Every Day – cdcinfo@cdc.gov
