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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

State Rep. Jake Wheatley
D-Allegheny
www.pahouse.com/Wheatley   

 

 

Lawmakers spotlight National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day at Capitol

 

HARRISBURG, Feb. 3 – State Rep. Jake Wheatley, D-Allegheny, commended the lawmakers and health-care leaders who came together at the state Capitol today to highlight the upcoming National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, which is observed Feb. 7.

 

"Even though African Americans comprise about 13 percent of the United States population, one-half of the estimated new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in the United States in 2005 were for African Americans. Prevention is important, and we need people around the state to raise awareness of this problem," said Wheatley, who is vice chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus.

 

Participants included:

·         Janice Kopelman, deputy secretary for health promotion and disease prevention, Pennsylvania Department of Health;

 

Wheatley is introducing a House resolution (H.R. 46) proclaiming Feb. 7 as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in the Commonwealth.

 

In Pennsylvania, information on HIV and AIDS and confidential HIV testing sites is available from the state's AIDS fact line – 1-800-662-6080. State and national information on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and the impact of HIV and AIDS on African Americans is available at www.blackaidsday.org.

 

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ATTACHMENTS (2 pages total): The text of Rep. Wheatley's resolution, and a fact sheet on African Americans and HIV/AIDS.

 

(State Rep. Jake Wheatley is introducing this resolution this week as H.R. 46.)

 

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing February 7, 2009, as "National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania.

 

WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the devastating effect of HIV/AIDS has reached an epidemic level among African Americans; and

 

WHEREAS, At every stage, from HIV diagnosis through the death of persons with AIDS, the most affected racial or ethnic group is, by far, African Americans; and

 

WHEREAS, Among diseases that disproportionately affect African Americans, HIV/AIDS has a particularly damaging effect; and

 

WHEREAS, Even though African Americans comprise approximately 13% of the United States population, one-half of the estimated new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in the United States in 2005 were for African Americans; and

 

WHEREAS, More African-American children have been afflicted with HIV/AIDS than children from all other races and ethnicities combined; and

 

WHEREAS, AIDS has become a leading cause of death for African Americans; and

 

WHEREAS, African Americans with AIDS do not live as long as people in other racial or ethnic groups who have AIDS; and

 

WHEREAS, Between 2001 and 2005, HIV/AIDS was the number one cause of death for African-American women 25 to 34 years of age; and

 

WHEREAS, February 7 is "National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day"; and

 

WHEREAS, This annual observance was created to raise awareness among African Americans about HIV/AIDS and its devastating impact on African-American communities; and

 

WHEREAS, The day is part of a national mobilization effort to encourage African Americans to learn more about the threat posed by the disease, obtain testing and treatment and make a commitment to fight HIV/AIDS; and

 

WHEREAS, Awareness is a vital step in stopping the spread of this disease; therefore be it

 

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize February 7, 2009, as "National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day" in Pennsylvania to ensure that the residents of this Commonwealth are aware of the destructive effect of HIV/AIDS on the African-American community.
Fact Sheet: African Americans and HIV/AIDS

 

There are more than 1 million people in the United States living with HIV. One-fourth of them do not know that they are HIV-infected. Could you be one of them? The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested.

HIV is the virus that causes AIDS, and it is hitting African Americans hard. Even though African Americans represent only 13 percent of the U.S. population, they accounted for 49 percent of all new cases of HIV/AIDS in 2005.

AIDS is now the leading cause of death for African American women ages 25 to 34. It is the second leading cause of death for African American men ages 35 to 44.

Most African American women (74 percent) living with HIV/AIDS in 2005 were infected through heterosexual contact. Almost half (48 percent) of all African American men living with HIV/AIDS in 2005 are men who have had sex with men. Another 23 percent of men were infected through injection drug use.

 

Know Your Status. Get Tested for HIV.

If you do not know if you are infected with HIV, you could be spreading it to others. If you are HIV-positive, you must take steps to prevent passing your HIV infection to another person.

If you find out that you have HIV, it does not mean that you are going to get sick and die. While there is no cure for HIV, new drugs are available that can help you stay healthy and decrease the amount of HIV virus in your body.

 

What Is the HIV Test?

The HIV test detects whether or not you have been exposed to the HIV virus. There are several different kinds of tests: blood tests, urine tests, and an oral (mouth) test. Only a very small amount of blood is needed for the blood tests.

HIV tests can take a few days to 2 weeks for results, or with rapid HIV tests you can get results in about 20 minutes.

 

Where Can I Get Tested?

Free and confidential or anonymous HIV tests are available. To find an HIV testing site near you, visit www.hivtest.org. In Pennsylvania, information on HIV and AIDS and confidential HIV testing sites is available from the state's AIDS fact line – 1-800-662-6080.

Or call: 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636), TTY: 1-888-232-6348; open 24 hours a day and confidential.

 

What Else Can I Do?

You have the power to help stop the spread of HIV.

◗ Be safe. The best way to prevent HIV is to abstain from having sex unless in a monogamous relationship where both of you know each other's HIV status. If you do have sex, use a new latex condom every time. Do not share needles or syringes.

◗ Talk about it. Talk about sex and HIV with your partners. Find out when they were last tested for HIV and what their status was. Be clear that you will be having safer sex…or none at all.

◗ Talk to your doctor. If you are sexually active, you should get tested for HIV at least once. Do not assume your doctor will ask you to be tested for HIV.

◗ Spread the word. Thousands of African Americans are getting HIV each year. Set an example by getting tested and spreading the word that others should do the same.

 

Primary source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services fact sheet, "Take Control of Your Health and Your Life: Get Tested for HIV," available at http://www.hhs.gov/aidsawarenessdays/factsheets/docs/05-1221afams.pdf

Additional information is available in a U.S. Centers for Disease Control fact sheet, "What African Americans Can Do," http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/aa/print/protection.htm)