March 20, 2009

AIDS Alliance Recognizes National Native HIV Awareness Day

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Washington, D.C.- In recognition of March 20, 2009 as National Native HIV Awareness Day (American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian), AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families announces the release of a new fact sheet highlighting the impact of HIV/AIDS in Native communities in the United States. March 20 marks an important moment leading up to living in a world without AIDS. 

 

The fact sheet, HIV/AIDS Trends in Communities of Color: American Indians and Alaska Natives, is available on the AIDS Alliance website www.aids-alliance.org and will be distributed at conferences, workshops, and community events around the country.  

 

HIV/AIDS is increasingly impacting lives in communities of every color and ethnic minorities.  It is estimated that from the early 1980s at the first recognition of the epidemic, through 2005 approximately 3, 238 American Indians and Alaska Natives were diagnosed with AIDS, with 1,657 members of this population dying from AIDS complications by 2005.

 

Even more troubling is the fact that of those diagnosed with AIDS between 1997 and 2004, American Indians and Alaska Natives survived for a shorter period of time than had Asian and Pacific Islanders, Whites or Hispanics with the same diagnosis.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in their fact sheet entitled HIV/AIDS among American Indians and Alaska Natives, stated that “after 9 years, 67 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives were alive, compared with 66% of blacks, 74 percent of Hispanics, 75 percent of Whites, and 81 percent of Asians and Pacific Islanders.”

 

“AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families is strongly committed to working within communities of color to reduce the incidence of HIV, specifically within these higher risk populations,” said Alelia Munroe, Board President. “HIV/AIDS affects us all regardless of one’s serostatus, therefore AIDS Alliance encourages participation in awareness efforts and community organizations to further our dedication to one day living in a world without AIDS.”

 

AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families recognizes that every life lost to AIDS is one too many.  Though, there are many initiatives, that with community involvement and cooperation can continue in the task of making a world without AIDS become a reality.  As a national partner with the NIAID HIV Vaccine Research Education Initiative (NHVREI), AIDS Alliance encourages community participation and support in HIV/ AIDS vaccine research.  It is important to recognize the need for people of all races and ethnicities, genders and socioeconomic backgrounds to be represented in clinical trials. 

 

It is also critical for communities of color to empower themselves by encouraging their local community- based organizations to apply for the Girls 4 HOPE program, as well as becoming an educated advocate as a Consumer Leadership Corps Trainer, both offered by AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families.  In addition, community members can also get involved by promoting a comprehensive sex education curriculum in their local schools.

 

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Founded in 1994, AACYF is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to advance the partnership between consumers and providers – we are the voice of women, children, youth and families living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.  AACYF works to enhance and expand access to quality, comprehensive, family-centered care to America’s children, youth and families affected by HIV/AIDS, as it represents the nation’s network of over 650 Ryan White Part D funded community-based organizations.  Part D programs serve over 53,000 HIV-affected women, children, youth and families through sites located in 35 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.