It’s been over 30 years since the first reported AIDS cases, and HIV is still a crisis in the U.S.
Approximately 50,000 Americans become newly infected each year, and an estimated 1.1 million people are now living with HIV. Nearly one in five of these individuals does not know that they are infected.
The African-American community continues to be disproportionately affected by HIV.
Blacks represent only 12 percent of the U.S. population, however, they accounted for 44 percent of all new HIV infections in 2009 and are 44 percent of all people living with HIV according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
To help lower HIV numbers, the CDC has unveiled a new campaign titled “Let’s Stop HIV Together.”
The campaign gives voice to people living with HIV from all walks of life, alongside their friends and family. These individuals share their personal stories and ask everyone to join the fight against the disease.
“In the fight against HIV, stigma and complacency are among our most insidious opponents,” said Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention in a recent interview. “This campaign reminds us that HIV affects every corner of society, and that it will take every one of us working together.”
To join the fight against HIV, there are several things people can do:
Get the facts
– HIV is found in specific human body fluids such as blood, semen, pre-seminal fluid, breast milk, vaginal fluids or rectal mucous. If any of those fluids enter your body, you can become infected with HIV.
– Other body fluids and waste products – like feces, nasal fluid, saliva, sweat, tears, urine or vomit – don’t contain enough HIV to infect you, unless they have blood mixed in them and you have significant and direct contact with them.
– HIV is primarily transmitted during sexual contact; during pregnancy, childbirth or breast feeding; as a result of injection drug use; as a result of occupational exposure; or as a result of a blood transfusion or organ transplant with an infected donor.
– AIDS is the late stage of HIV infection, when a person’s immune system is severely damaged and has difficulty fighting diseases. Currently, people live much longer with HIV before they develop AIDS.
Get tested
– CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 be tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care.
– Testing once a year (or more) is recommended for people at higher risk of HIV infection, such as those who are gay, bisexual, men who have sex with men (MSM), injection drug users, or people with multiple sex partners.
– Finding out early can help you live a longer, healthier life due to advancements in treatments.
– To get tested, contact The Damien Center at 800-213-1163; The Indianapolis Urban League at (317) 693-7603; your primary physician’s office; or visit hivtest.cdc.gov and type in your zip code.
Get involved
n Find an AIDS organization in your area and volunteer, or organize an event of your own to help get out the word.
For more information, call the Centers for Disease Control at 800–232–4636.
Sources: aids.gov; cdc.gov; hivtest.cdc.gov; blackaids.org
In your hood
There are various places to get tested for HIV in Indianapolis.
Martindale-Brightwood Health Center
2855 N. Keystone Ave.
(317) 920-5760
– Damien Center Inc.
26 N. Arsenal Ave.
(317) 632-0123
– Peoples Health Center
2340 E. 10th St.
(317) 633-7360
– Citizens Health Center
1650 N. College Ave.
(317) 924-6351
– Horizon House
1033 E. Washington St.
(317) 423-8909
– IU School of Medicine Research Clinic
550 N. University Blvd.,
Room 5510
(317) 274-8456
– Indianapolis Urban
League
777 Indiana Ave.
(317) 693-7603
– IU Health Methodist Hospital and Physicians LifeCare
1633 N. Capitol Ave.
(317) 962-2700
– Marion County Health Department Bell Flower Clinic
1101 W. 10th St.
(317) 221-8312
– Brothers United Inc.
3737 N. Meridian St.
(317) 931-0292
