Saturday marks the annual National Back HIV/AIDS Awareness DAY, a day meant to encourage African-Americans to get more aware of the risk of contracting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

 

According to estimates of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 56,000 people in the United States become infected with HIV annually, especially among men who have sex with other men. The biggest percentage, about 46 percent, of HIV/AIDS infections are reported among men with homosexual orientation. Black Americans are seven times more likely to be infected than whites. When speaking about African-American women, they are 15 times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV infection than women of other races.

 

Afro-Americans are the most exposed to HIV infection (14.9 percent annual increase), followed by Caucasians (9.4 percent annual increase) and Hispanics (7.9 percent.)

 

Given the circumstances, there is a need for programs that specifically target those most at risk, namely the African American people. February 7 is the day when African American leaders, organizations and public health workers join in an effort to bring awareness on HIV epidemic among this category of population. This is the day when African-Americans are urged to get educated, tested and treated for the disease in an effort to reverse the current statistics.

 

The National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day encourages all to talk about prevention technique, to refrain from having unprotected sex, or using used syringes, and to provide medical and psychological support to those who may be affected.