On National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, We're Our Brothers' Keeper

By Eric Brus

The 16th annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) is being observed on Saturday, February 7. As has been the case for the past several years, the theme for NBHAAD in 2015 is: "I Am My Brother's/Sister's Keeper: FIGHT HIV/AIDS!"

According to NBHAAD organizers, the primary purpose of the event is to encourage Black Americans to:

� get educated about HIV and AIDS;
� get involved in community prevention efforts;
� get tested to know their status; and
� get treated to receive the continuum of care needed to live with HIV/AIDS.

To help you and your patients or clients prepare for and mark NBHAAD, we have compiled an annotated list of online resources focusing on HIV/AIDS in the Black/African American community.

Fact Sheets and Reports

HIV Among African Americans. Fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

HIV in the United States: At a Glance. This CDC report discusses the high rates of HIV infection seen among African Americans.

Diagnoses of HIV Infection and AIDS in the United States and Dependent Areas, 2014. This 123-page CDC report includes detailed information about HIV and AIDS cases and deaths among Blacks/African Americans and other racial/ethnic groups. Breakdowns are also provided by age, gender, HIV transmission category, and geographic region.

Black Americans and HIV/AIDS. This three-page fact sheet from the Kaiser Family Foundation was last updated in 2014. It provides detailed information on HIV/AIDS among Black Americans in the following topic areas: snapshot of the epidemic, key trends and current cases, women and young people, gay and bisexual men, HIV transmission, geographic distribution of cases, access to and use of health care, HIV testing, and opinions about HIV/AIDS.

Selected Organizations and Websites

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Website: This site provides background information about the awareness day, links to resources, a facility to register for NBHAAD events, and information about the Historically Black Colleges and Universities HIV/AIDS awareness initiative. You can also order or download PDFs of posters and postcards to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in the Black community.

Black AIDS Institute: The Black AIDS Institute is a leading organization addressing HIV/AIDS among Black Americans. Their website provides detailed information on a range of programs and reports focusing on the impact of the epidemic on the Black community.

Recent reports include:

� When We Know Better, We Do Better

� Light at the End of the Tunnel: Ending AIDS in Black America

� Back of the Line: The State of AIDS Among Black Gay American Men

� Exit Strategy: Ending the AIDS Epidemic in Black America

� AIDS: 30 Years Is Enuf!

� NMAC: The NMAC website has extensive resources in support of its mission to develop leadership in communities of color to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

� HIV/AIDS Resource Center for African Americans: This section on TheBody.com website has links to numerous resources about HIV/AIDS in the Black community, as well as links to recent news articles, opinion pieces, and personal stories.