"N" Search of Ecstasy

As some of you may already know, today is World AIDS Day . Every year, people around the world designate December 1st, World AIDS Day, as a time of reflection – a day that they can remember the friends and loved ones lost to the AIDS epidemic, a day to observe the lessons learned over the year, and to assess the progress made in providing a comprehensive response to the epidemic.

As a Public Health and Research professional, I felt compelled to discuss the subject in an effort to increase awareness of this disease that is particularly ravaging the African American community.

World AIDS Day 2005, themed 'Stop AIDS. Keep the promise'. will focus on keeping commitments to stop AIDS at all levels: personal, community, organizational, governmental. This theme supports the World AIDS Campaign. This campaign fights to reduce the infection rates and the number of deaths related to AIDS. Because the numbers are staggering! The number of people living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, had reached its highest level ever in 2005 at an estimated 40.3 million people and nearly half of them are women. The AIDS epidemic has killed more than 3 million people in 2005.

As the world commemorates the 18th annual World AIDS Day today, the first thing that comes to my mind is that there is still no cure, still no effective vaccine, and a whole host of new challenges: it might seem that nothing has changed since the epidemic began more than two decades ago.

Prevention is the key. But for those who have already contracted the disease, early treatment and carefully keeping an eye on the condition may help to prevent it from developing into full-blown AIDS. In the 1980s, the early years of the disease, many who got AIDS fell ill and quickly died from infections. But with current treatments continuing to get better, contracting HIV doesn't have to be a death sentence. But you have to get tested and take care of yourself, and preferably before you show signs of illness.

Unfortunately regardless of prevention efforts among U.S. blacks and other minority groups, HIV infection rates among non-whites remain high. Although it's difficult to get an accurate handle on the national picture, federal officials estimated that African Americans are eight times more likely to become infected than whites and that’s a pretty scary estimate!

As I listened to the radio this morning on my way to work, the morning host had an open forum to discuss HIV/AIDS in the African American community. It was amazing to me the number of people that called into the show and admitted that they do not always practice safe sex. I’m not talking about people who are married or people in serious relationships (even though this is still NO guarantee). But I am talking about the people that have casual flings!! The people who have one nite stands. I’m sorry but just the thought of that is sooooo gross to me! But that’s just me.
The rate of infection about African American in on the rise!!! Women have got to take charge of protecting themselves. African American women, especially, have to understand that AIDS is not just a "gay" disease or one that only affects women who are drug abusers or prostitutes. Women most at risk often have partners who are infected. Women need to know that marriage isn't a protector against HIV. Neither is a boyfriend who says, `You don't have to worry, I don't have a disease.' PLEASE!!!!

Another problem in the African American community and in the community at large is that those who are infected don't get the care and treatments available. People just are not getting tested and when they do, they don't want to tell anyone or they do not want to take advantage of the services that are available, because they fear someone may find out. People need to understand that they need to do whatever it takes to protect their lives and if that means taking meds and going for visits at the neighborhood clinic, that’s what they will have to do, regardless of who finds out. I mean is it going to matter if Tom, Dick, and Harry find out you’re positive if you are lying there on your death bed? No…..protect yourself and if you already have it, take care of yourself!!

Resources For More Information:

USAID AIDS Info
AIDS.org