Cohen Statement on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) today issued the following statement recognizing National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, which is marked today, February 7. Tennessee reported 14,021 AIDS cases to the Centers for Disease Control, cumulatively, from the beginning of the epidemic through December 2008. Tennessee ranked 18th highest among the 50 states in cumulative reported AIDS cases:

“HIV/AIDS is an alarming crisis in the African American community. The statistics surrounding this epidemic are proof positive that we must take steps to aggressively promote HIV/AIDS testing, deliver antiretroviral drugs to those who need them, eliminate waiting lists for HIV/AIDS drug assistance, ensure our youth are provided with comprehensive sex education, and adopt other common-sense health care initiatives to make serious progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS and help save thousands of lives.

African Americans are disproportionately affected by the weaknesses in our health care system. More likely than other Americans to lack health insurance coverage or essential health information, African Americans are more likely than other racial or ethnic groups to be diagnosed late in the course of HIV/AIDS infection, less likely to be linked to care, less likely to be prescribed life-preserving and prevention promoting antiretroviral drugs, and more likely to die of HIV-related causes.

As a country, we must combat this crisis with everything we’ve got. We cannot stress the importance of HIV/AIDS awareness and testing enough among communities of color. Anything is possible when stakeholders work together to achieve common goals. I vow to continue to work with President Obama and his Administration, schools, clinics, hospitals and other community partners to put every HIV/AIDS fighting tool to use in this battle.”