[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 10 (Friday, February 8, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E124]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        IN RECOGNITION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN NATIONAL HIV/AIDS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, February 8, 2002

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to shed light once again on a vicious 
scourge that has gripped the African-American community for years and 
continues to strangle the life of a great number of our people. Today, 
the CDC estimates that 284,000 of the 740,000 individuals infected with 
HIV are African-Americans. In other words, African-Americans make up 
almost 38 percent of all AIDS cases reported in this country.
  Men, women and children are being infected at staggering rates. For 
example, nearly 47 percent of the 46,400 AIDS cases reported in 1999 
(21,900 cases) were reported among African-Americans. Almost two-thirds 
(63 percent) of all women reported with AIDS were African-American and 
African-American children represent almost two-thirds (65 percent) of 
all reported pediatric AIDS cases. We have all heard the numbers and we 
all know they are astounding.
  More disheartening is that despite the advances in medical therapy, 
many African-American patients continue to reject physician 
recommendations for therapy. Many patients rely totally upon 
nutritional programs, herbal formulas, and other empirical modalities 
of unproved efficacy.
  Research has shed some light on the possible reasons for the lack of 
program participation by African-Americans infected with HIV. Results 
from surveys indicate that African-Americans with AIDS may believe that 
combination drug therapy is to costly to afford. It is true that these 
therapy treatments may exceed $7,000 a year but they are effective. In 
addition, most commercial insurance plans like Medicare and Medicaid 
will cover these costs. Many States included my home State of New York 
have programs which will provide supplemental payments for AIDS 
treatment (Aids Drug Assistance Program ADAP).
  Also, most of the pharmaceutical companies which manufacture drugs 
used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS related illness have compassionate 
use programs for patients without insurance and who do not qualify for 
Medicaid. Patients usually can get assistance from physicians in 
enrolling for these programs and social service workers in public 
clinics and hospitals also will provide information and assistance for 
patients in need.
  Given all these advances in drug treatment protocols and supportive 
strategies among front-line care workers, there is still a high number 
of African-Americans dying from the virus. Moreover, the number of 
individuals dying from the virus is often overshadowed by the daunting 
numbers that are getting infected with the virus everyday.
  This suggests that we as Americans must do more to curb the increase 
of HIV/AIDS particularly in the African-American community. We must use 
a more comprehensive approach in addressing the issue.
  We all know the statistics, the question is what do we do about it. I 
believe that a comprehensive approach to addressing the problem, which 
includes strategies developed with the assistance of community 
stakeholders, should be adopted.
  The following plans should be included in this comprehensive program 
to fight the HIV/AIDS in the African-American community.
  The Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease 
Control, and state health agencies must work with African-American 
grassroots organizations, Black churches, penal institutions, schools, 
clinics, hospitals, the media, and community and civic groups to ensure 
that the development of the planning process includes the voices all 
the stakeholders in the community.
  Efforts should be directed to communities at greatest risk.
  Plans should include access to voluntary HIV counseling, testing, and 
confidential notification of potentially exposed partners with 
voluntary counseling.
  Plans should reach HIV-infected individuals and link them with care 
and treatment services.
  Plans should incorporate comprehensive efforts that reduce sexual 
risk behavior. Programs that strongly emphasize abstinence, monogamy, 
or consistent and correct use of latex condoms among those who are 
sexually active should be considered. Most important, stakeholders 
should examine what elements in the comprehensive approach is likely to 
be effective in their communities.
  Plans should include comprehensive efforts that reduce drug-related 
behavior.
  Plans should use comprehensive school based programs and programs for 
out-of-school youth to provide HIV/AIDS prevention and intervention.
  Plans should include efforts to improve prevention programs in 
correctional facilities.
  I believe that these plans, if used as part of a comprehensive 
program with the assistance of community stakeholders, will make a 
difference in decreasing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the African-
American community. In sum, education, testing, treatment, and 
counseling are keys to an HIV/AIDS free society.

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