HIV/AIDS Prevention-A Choice and a Lifestyle
Released on Tue, Feb 02, 2010 - 6:07 pm under
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is February 7, 2010
NASHVILLE – In Tennessee, while African-Americans comprise approximately 16 percent of the total state population, they make up 64 percent of HIV infection diagnoses. In an effort to draw attention to this crisis among black communities, the Tennessee Department of Health will take part in observances of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on February 7, 2010.
The goal of NBHAAD is to increase awareness, participation and support for HIV prevention, care and treatment among African-Americans. This year’s NBHAAD theme is “HIV/AIDS Prevention — A Choice and a Lifestyle!” Across Tennessee, several organizations are planning events as part of this annual health observance.
“National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is an excellent opportunity for African-Americans in Tennessee to get tested for HIV and learn more about what HIV is doing to the black community in our state,” said Veronica Gunn, MD, MPH, FAAP, chief medical officer of the Tennessee Department of Health. “Free testing events are offered in every major city. I encourage everyone to have an HIV test and find out how to protect yourself from acquiring or transmitting HIV.”
In Tennessee, case rates of reported HIV/AIDS infection among African-Americans in 2008 were approximately 10 times higher than similar rates among Caucasians. That same year, African-Americans comprised the majority of deaths in Tennessee among people with HIV/AIDS, representing 61 percent of those fatalities. Nationwide, African-Americans had the highest HIV death rates per 100,000 in both the 25-34 and 35-44 age groups in 2006. In that same year, HIV was the fourth leading cause of death for black men ages 25-44 and third leading cause of death for black women in the same age group.
Many of those who are infected with HIV are unaware of their status and may unknowingly transmit the virus to others. A person may feel perfectly healthy for several years after becoming infected with HIV, and may be at risk for passing the virus on to others. The only way to know for certain if an individual is infected with the HIV virus is to be tested.
Free and confidential HIV testing is offered in all Tennessee county health department clinics and at community-based organizations across the state. Tennessee’s health department clinics also offer counseling with trained health care providers on ways to reduce the risk of acquiring HIV infection. Find a list of county health department locations on the TDOH Web site at http://health.state.tn.us/localdepartments.htm.
Information on other sites that offer HIV testing can be found online at www.HIVtest.org. Mobile phone users can send a text message with their ZIP code to “KNOWIT” (566948), and within seconds will receive a text message identifying a testing site near them.
A comprehensive list of events planned across Tennessee for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day can be found at http://www.blackaidsday.org/states/tn.html. For more information on NBHAAD activities or where you can get tested, call the HIV/AIDS Hotline at 1-800-525-2437.
