It’s been a big month in the fight against HIV and AIDS. On May 10, a panel of federal advisers gave a thumbs up to thefirst drug shown to prevent HIV infection; just five days later, a panel recommended approval of the first over-the-counter HIV test, which would allow consumers to screen themselves in the privacy of their own homes; and yesterday, some 45,000 New Yorkers reportedly raised over $6 million to aid in medical and social services required by those already living with the disease.
Among them were singer Keri Hilson and TV personality Wendy Williams, who each mentioned, despite these advances, awareness is where the fight falls short, especially when it comes to African Americans.
“We’ve had an impact regarding awareness, but not enough of an impact,” Williams said. “Any average 17-year-old right now is not even threatened by AIDS. The big bubble of fear is trapped within a particular age group, and I don’t believe that it exists with high school kids and even some college kids,” she said.
For Hilson, whose hometown of Atlanta was recently named one of six U.S. cities hardest hit by the global AIDS epidemic, the lack of awareness is even more sobering.
“I’m born and raised in Atlanta and I’m just learning this — today, as a matter of fact,” she said. “There’s no way that we should be there and not know that and not have bigger support for those that are infected and affected.”
Hilson points to stigma as a reason why more people aren’t in the know, and Marjorie Hill, CEO of Gay Men’s Health Crisis, the organization benefiting from AIDS Walk New York yesterday, agrees.
“Individuals in communities of color are still challenged by the mistaken assumption that it’s a white disease, it’s a gay disease, it’s not impacting communities of color. African Americans in particular bear the overwhelming burden of HIV and AIDS in this country.”
(Source:HuffingtonPost)
