For Immediate Release:
Contact: Waheedah Shabazz-El (267) 231-2647 or Teresa Sullivan (215) 512-5104
On Black HIV Awareness Day - Philly Positive Women’s Network speaks: “HIV in the African American Community is a Symptom of Much Larger Problems”
Philadelphia, PA, Monday February 7, 2011 -- HIV/AIDS has taken up residence in African American Communities. Nearly 30 years into the HIV epidemic, data shows most new infections to be among African American communities and other communities of color.
Despite education and social marketing campaigns, HIV continues to thrive in African American communities because HIV is a symptom of much larger problems embedded in chronic poverty, inadequate health care options, and social inequities such as racism, poverty and homophobia.
These factors make poor people and people of color more vulnerable to HIV.
According to PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH INTEGRATED EPIDEMIOLOGIC PROFILE OF HIV/ AIDS IN PENNSYLVANIA, 2009 – 2010, when it comes to HIV infection in Pennsylvania, blacks account for 51% of HIV cases and 17% of newly diagnosed AIDS cases, although we make up only 10.6% of the general Pennsylvania. population.
PWN-Philly Coordinator Waheedah Shabazz-El said “ Looking at Pennsylvania’s statistical data and working in the community every day I have come to see that where there are barriers to quality health care, education, or lack of affordable housing there are high rates of HIV, STDs, homelessness and incarceration. We must start making the connections between HIV and these other structural inequalities that drive the epidemic.”
“Until our leaders, decision makers and health departments develop and fund programs that address these structural predicaments, society will continue to see HIV proliferate in poor communities and communities of color”, commented PWN Steering Committee Member, Teresa Sullivan.
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Who we are:
The U.S. Positive Women’s Network (PWN) is a project of WORLD (Women Organized to Respond to Life-threatening Disease) in Oakland, CA. We are a national membership body that exists to strengthen the strategic power of women living with HIV in the United States. PWN-Philly is one of several regional organizing groups. For more information please visit: www.pwn-usa.org or join the PWN mailing list by emailing pwn@womenhiv.org.
My sister Waheedah we must continue to work towards ending the
ReplyDeleteWaheedah the blog is looking great> we as leaders in the Black must continue to move forward with the hard work to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in all communities.
Are we doing enough to raise awareness about HIV in our communities ...or are we just spinning our wheels.
ReplyDeleteWhat's missing?
There are so many areas that we need to reach such more awareness to the Black communities.
ReplyDeleteMore media coverage on the affect that HIV/AIDS is having in America. Advocates/communities more knowledgeable on what the National AIDS Strategic Plan means.
As we move forward into the future of prevention and advocacy work for those infected and affected by the epidemic of HIV/AIDS.We need to have more community leader involved in the process of educating those that look up to them. Also as the expertise we need to mark sure they are spreading the correct facts not myths.
ReplyDeleteAIDS-related stigma and discrimination refers to prejudice, negative attitudes, abuse and maltreatment directed at people living with HIV and AIDS. They can result in being shunned by family, peers and the wider community; poor treatment in healthcare and education settings; an erosion of rights; psychological damage; and can negatively affect the success of testing and treatment.
ReplyDelete