National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

February 7th marks the 12th annual day of reflection and recognition on HIV and AIDS in the African-American community. As we approach this 2012 milestone next month, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that as of 2009: African Americans are only 14 percent of the US population, but account for almost half of all new HIV infections. In the Black community, men account for 70 percent of new HIV infections; women account for 30 percent. Black women, the majority of whom are infected through heterosexual contact, are far more affected by HIV than women of other races. In fact, black women account for 57 percent of all new HIV infections among women. For over a decade, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) along with advocacy and African-American based organizations have mobilized communities to drive this grassroots initiative. Given this year’s theme , “I am My Brother's/Sister's keeper: Fight HIV/AIDS”, we encourage you to consider the value of support and role of peer counselors within the African American community and the importance of raising awareness on the burden of this condition. As you do, we invite you to view two YouTube videos that may be helpful to those who may be impacted with a diagnosis of HIV, be it a personal diagnosis or caring for a loved one. The videos offer a valuable opportunity for you to both educate and inspire those of your readers who may be newly diagnosed and drive awareness and understanding among the broader community as well. The videos are part of a series produced last year by Janssen Therapeutics, Division of Janssen Products LP. The Journey, which can be found on the Johnson & Johnson YouTube health channel at The Journey: Portraits of People Living with HIV, shows how people who are living with HIV overcame emotional barriers following their diagnosis and now serve others as peer counselors at AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs). Given that African Americans continue to face the most severe burden of HIV and AIDS in the nation, two African Americans are among the four video profiles comprising The Journey’s motivating personal stories. The series includes a resource to help find local ASOs using the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services resource, www.AIDS.gov/locator. To date, the videos have had more 100,000 views and received many encouraging comments on the YouTube channel.