February 7th is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, an opportunity to promote HIV prevention, testing, care, and treatment among African Americans in the United States.
We know that African Americans are disproportionately affected by HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that blacks accounted for nearly half (44 percent) of all new infections in 2010, despite making up only 14 percent of the population. This represents a rate that is eight times higher than whites.
Overall, African American gay and bisexual men, especially young men, are the hardest-hit. In addition, African American women are far more affected by HIV than women of any other race or ethnicity.
Today, we have 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.
The NEA Health Information Network encourages everyone to get educated, get tested, get involved, and encourage others to do so as well.
Thanks,
Jim
To learn more, visit:
- http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/risk/racialethnic/aa/index.html
- http://www.cdc.gov/actagainstaids/campaigns/lsht/index.html
- http://www.aids.gov/
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