[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 7, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E157]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 NATIONAL BLACK HIV/AIDS AWARENESS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 7, 2012

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, today is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness 
Day and I rise to highlight the struggle of the African American 
community against this terrible disease. The theme for this year is ``I 
am My Brother's/Sister's Keeper: Fight HIV/AIDS''. HIV is a crisis in 
the Black Community and has been for thirty years.
  African Americans are disproportionately affected by this disease. 
According to the CDC, an estimated 1 in 16 black men and 1 in 32 black 
women will be diagnosed with HIV infection at some point in their 
lifetimes; and an African American woman is 15 times more likely to be 
living with HIV than a white woman of the same age. The CDC also notes 
that in 2007, HIV was the ninth leading cause of death for all blacks 
and the third leading cause of death for black women and black men aged 
35-44.
  Today, the New York Health Department announced that new HIV data 
shows a 41% drop in deaths among black persons living with HIV/AIDS in 
New York between 2001 and 2010. Though this is promising new 
information, the black community is still disproportionately affected 
by this disease. More than 107,000 New Yorkers are living with HIV, but 
thousands more don't know they're infected. New York City's AIDS case 
rate is almost 3 times the U.S. national average. Brooklyn alone has 
the highest population of any borough in New York City and has one of 
the highest HIV infection rates among Black and Latina women in the 
country. According to a Brooklyn based research institution, in 2008 
nearly 30% of people living with HIV/AIDS in New York City, who died, 
were Brooklyn residents.
  African Americans are more likely to be diagnosed late in the course 
of HIV infection, less likely to be connected with care and less likely 
to be prescribed the necessary preventative and life preserving anti-
retroviral medications. Blacks are also most likely to die from HIV-
related causes.
  These are sobering statistics, but they offer us the opportunity to 
spread awareness and take action to provide the community with the help 
they need. The Affordable Care Act, which I fully supported, is a 
fantastic opportunity to provide assistance to African Americans as 
well as others suffering from this disease. It stops providers from 
denying coverage to HIV positive children and adults as well as 
providing increased access to Medicaid and other prescription 
assistance programs. However, until this act is fully implemented, we 
must work hard and work together to educate and provide access to care 
for those who need it most.
  We cannot let the black community continue to bear the most severe 
burden of all racial groups. We must stand together to support the 
community and take action against the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS. We 
must ensure our youth receive comprehensive education about the disease 
to help prevent infections in future generations. Until we put an end 
to AIDS, we must remain united to achieve the common goal of prevention 
and treatment for all.

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