A STATEMENT FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF PEOPLE WITH AIDS AND POZ MAGAZINE
On the occasion of this World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, 2007, The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) and POZ magazine ask Americans to celebrate the enormous progress that has been made in treating HIV/AIDS and to remember those we have lost to the disease. More than half a million Americans have died from AIDS.
While the World Health Organization recently revised the number of people infected with HIV worldwide downward—from 39.5 million to 33 million—we remind Americans that the rate of HIV infection continues to rise in the United States. Indeed, there have never been more people living with HIV/AIDS in America than there are today. The statistics are astounding: One in 20 people in the District of Columbia has HIV. AIDS is the leading cause of death of African-American women between the ages of 25 to 34. Half of all new American infections occur in people under the age of 25. There are an estimated 1.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS in America—and 25 percent of them don’t even know they have the disease.
The disease is 100 percent preventable, yet, according to numbers reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 40,000 new infections annually in the United States. As we go to press with this letter, there is talk that the CDC may soon revise the number of annual U.S. infections upward—to reflect that AIDS is growing again in America.
While we applaud our federal government’s pledge of $30 billion to the President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), we strongly emphasize that a great many Americans cannot afford insurance, health care or treatment for HIV/AIDS. At a time when the U.S. infection rate has peaked, we have smaller budgets for prevention, testing and treatment than ever before.
AIDS continues to cut a swath through all sectors of the populace. Everyone who has unprotected sex and/or uses intravenous drugs is at risk for contracting HIV. Women, young people, people over the age of 50 and the African-American and Latino communities are becoming increasingly affected by the disease. And HIV infections are rising again in the communities of men who have sex with men (MSM) and intravenous drug users.
Of all groups affected by AIDS, the African-American community has been hit disproportionately hard. African Americans constitute approximately 12 percent of America’s population, yet they account for more than 50 percent of those living with HIV in America today. African-American women constituted a staggering 67 percent of all AIDS diagnoses among women in 2005.
Together in 2008, NAPWA and POZ will deepen our resolve in the fight against AIDS, working with every segment of the community to inform, empower and inspire those living with HIV/AIDS and those at risk for contracting the virus. We will work to ensure that the new year proves to be one of continued progress in the development of treatment, improved access to care, the reduction of stigma and a great financial commitment to support those in need living with HIV/AIDS.
We believe that 2008 is a critical opportunity for positive change in the areas of education, particularly sex education for young Americans; prevention; testing; and the care of those living with HIV/AIDS, including those who are incarcerated.
With the impending change in the administration, NAPWA and POZ hope that whoever assumes the presidency, Democrat or Republican, male or female, realizes and addresses the devastating AIDS epidemic in America.
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comments 1 - 4 (of 4 total)
Rayford Kytle, Washington, DC, 2007-12-04 10:22:16
We need to demand that the federal government combat homophobia (sexual prejudice if you prefer), which fuels the epidemic by creating a hostile atmosphere for gay men when they come out. Ashamed and guilt-ridden, they often have sex in the dark with strangers, and may not practice safe sex. Stigma also causes some men to marry or have girlfriends, to whom they can't confess their sex with men, fueling the epidemic among women. We also need to fight sexism to empower women to demand safe sex
Derrick R, Washington, DC, 2007-12-02 18:25:58
As an HIV-positive teacher I have been watching my school system be attacked by religious organizations, such as www.mcpscurriculum.com as well as www.pfox.org. These anti-gay and anti- comprehensive sexual education bigots don't have the health and safety of our children in mind. It saddens me, being both a teacher and HIV-positive, to see how groups like this can march into our public schools and press their religous agenda onto our tax payers, teachers and, most important, kids.
Vickie Bajorek, Eustis, 2007-12-01 09:33:12
a very good letter and Im glad to hear that the Gov is increasing the funds to 30 mil. Thanks to all.
David Martin, Palm Coast, 2007-11-30 08:20:18
I wanted to say that the letter was well written and with out you we would be lost. 18 years and im still here thanks.
Beth Benne, RN, is HIV negative, but
the virus has impacted her life. She currently supervises a biannual HIV/AIDS awareness week as
the director of the student health center at Pierce College, a
community commuter school in Woodland Hills, California.
Woman of the Month is supported by exclusive advertising from Gilead.
Overheard in the Women's Forum
"I recently met a guy who is negative. I did tell him about my status and he decided to kiss me anyway (we didn't go further than that). But a day later, he called and said that he actually had a mouth ulcer that time when we kissed and he was very worried. Asked if he can get the virus from me that way. For that moment, I felt so insulted and yet I felt so bad. It was my first time having a contact with a "negative" guy."
