IFBP Statement on Newly Released HIV Infection Rates
By IFBP
Yesterday the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new multi year (2006 to 2009) HIV incidence data which showed while HIV infection was generally steady, infections among young men who have sex with men (MSM) increased during this period among young, black MSM the only subpopulation to experience a significant increase during the time period.
According to the new estimates, the HIV infection rate among blacks was nearly 8 times as high as whites and almost 3 times as high as Hispanics and among African Americans, black men are hardest hit, comprising 70% of new infections among African Americans in 2009 the vast majority was among men who have sex with men (MSM).
''While no communities have escaped the ire of the HIV pandemic, alarmingly Black communities and young, African American Gay, Bisexual and Same Gender Loving Men specifically continue to bear an increased burden of this epidemic'', said Anthony Carr, Chair of the IFBP Policy Committee.
Other key findings indicate a continued cause for concern among African Americans, specifically for Black women. The new data specifies that Black women are also significantly impacted, accounting for nearly a third (30%) of new infections among blacks and almost 60 percent of all new HIV infections among women overall in 2009.
''While it is clear that Black communities have historically organized to fight this disease, it is clearer today that a comprehensive, critical, and coordinated response drawing on partnerships between all sectors of government, community based organizations, civic organizations, academia and business communities is needed to address the alarming increase of HIV infection in African American communities particularly among Black Gay, Bisexual and Same Gender Loving Men. There is no time like now for the often used African adage, it takes a village''said Earl Fowlkes, President/CEO of the IFBP.
''Today we call for renewed efforts to bring together coalitions of African Americans from all backgrounds to lead the fight against this disease along with other communities similar to and beyond that which has been laid out in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. While the new data is not welcomed news, it does provide us with an opportunity to once again renew our energy, resources and community resilience to combat this disease,'' said Dwayne Jenkins, Chair of the IFBP Board of Directors.
The IFBP is the a coalition of Black Pride organizations formed to promote a multinational network of LGBT/Same Gender Loving Pride and community based organizations dedicated to building solidarity, promoting unity, and ensuring the development of education, economic empowerment, and individual and collective work, responsibility, and self determination. IFBP membership consists of over 38 Black pride organizations from the United States, Canada, London and South Africa, making it the largest Black LGBT organization in the United States.
The IFBP is partner organization of the CDC's Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative (AAALI), a partnership of 19 leading national organizations designed to increase HIV prevention efforts among African Americans, Latinos, and gay and bisexual men the populations hardest hit by HIV.