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HIV/AIDS Disparities Focus of Upcoming Awareness Day
Press Release
January 26, 2011
Special to The Daily News
Published January 31, 2011
Galveston County and Cities – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that more than one million people are living with HIV in the United States. One in five (21%) of those people living with HIV is unaware of their infection and may unknowingly transmit the virus to others.
The 11th annual observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is February 7th – a time to recognize the disproportionately heavy toll the HIV epidemic has taken on African Americans. Among racial/ethnic groups, African Americans carry the greatest burden of HIV and AIDS in the nation. Representing approximately 13% of the U.S. population, the CDC reports that the black population accounts for almost half of the nation’s AIDS cases. According to the CDC’s latest data from 2006 blacks accounted for 45% of new HIV infections in the United States; and in 2008 an estimated 18,328 blacks received an AIDS diagnosis. In addition, as of 2006 the rate of new HIV infection for black women was nearly 15 times as high as that of white women and nearly 4 times that of Hispanic/Latina women.
During the event, the Galveston County Health District’s HIV/STD program staff will be offering HIV testing at their offices in the Island Community Center, 4700 Broadway, Suite C113 (West Entrance) from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday February 7th. Free rapid testing kits for the event have been provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Anyone may obtain the tests during the event.
Health officials recommend that everyone know their HIV status. “It is important that everyone know their status if we are going to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS,” says Dr. Dana Beckham, GCHD’s Chief Epidemiologist. “While this particular day is targeted toward the African American population we encourage anyone that would like to know their status, or simply learn more about HIV/AIDS to come in on the 7th.”
In addition to testing, information will also be available about HIV/AIDS and how it is affecting our African American community. The Health District is partnering with the Gulf Coast Center, and the Black Nurses Association for this event. For more information on GCHD’s STD/HIV Control Services visit their web site at www.gchd.org/chn/STD.htm. HIV/AIDS educational information and resources can also be found at the CDC web site, www.cdc.gov/hiv/.
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(News Media: For more information contact Kurt Koopmann, GCHD Public Information Officer, 409-938-2211 or kkoopman@gchd.org)
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