MyBlack^® Health

Derek Spencer...Ten Minutes to End AIDS in Black Community

Source: Afro American

There is an old saying: Knowledge is power. This is true about many aspects of life, but is of paramount importance when it comes to the crisis of HIV and AIDS in the Black community. As an African-American medical expert, I know the single biggest factor fueling the AIDS epidemic in our community is that too many of us dont know our HIV status. This is despite the fact that todays HIV tests have never been more convenient, are often free and give results in as little as 10 minutes. On June 27, National HIV Testing Day, we have an excellent opportunity to close this life-threatening gap in our knowledge.

Lets first learn a few basics about this crisis in our community. The facts speak for themselves: Of the 1.1 million Americans with HIV/AIDS today, more than 500,000 are Black. We represent more than half of new HIV/AIDS cases in this country, and account for more than half of AIDS-related deaths. Perhaps most alarmingly, 20 percent of African Americans with HIV do not know they are infected.

Despite these dire statistics, there is actually reason for hope because we have the power to change this picture. We should strive to reduce new HIV cases in our community and put the brakes on this epidemic. In my view, there are three concrete things we can do to stop the Black AIDS crisis.

First, we should get tested for HIV early and often. Right now, too many African Americans have not been tested for HIV or do not get tested on a regular basis. Not surprisingly, we know that folks who are not diagnosed are much more likely to transmit HIV than those who know their status. Our chances of stopping the HIV and AIDS epidemic in our community will go up substantially if we can make HIV testing a widespread, routine practice in our community.

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