Barbara Lee Recognizes National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
For Immediate Release
February 6, 2009
Contact: Nicole Y. Williams
(202) 225-2661
Introduces Supporting the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Washington, DC –Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-9) released this statement acknowledging National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.
“Twenty-seven years after the first cases of AIDS were reported, HIV is still running rampant in the United States. By and large, African Americans are bearing the brunt of the HIV/AIDS epidemic accounting for nearly half of all new HIV infections in 2006.
“All told, African American’s represent 42 percent of all people currently living with HIV/AIDS despite only representing about 12 percent of the population. Even worse, are the statistics for African American women who accounted for 61 percent of all new HIV cases among women in 2006, and were 23 times more likely to be infected than white women.
“In honor of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness day and this year’s theme “Black Life is Worth Saving”, I will be introducing a resolution that recognizes and supports the goals and ideals of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Among several objectives, it encourages state and local governments, public health agencies and the media to emphasize and publicize the importance of this day among the African American community, and all communities, and calls for the development of a national AIDS strategy.
“HIV/AIDS is devastating our communities. That is why we must take action now to raise awareness and educate people on how to protect themselves from this deadly disease. I applaud the organizers of this worthwhile effort and look forward working to end the scourge of HIV/AIDS both in this country and abroad.”
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was created in 2001 by a coalition of five national non-profit organizations to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS among the African American community. Celebrated each year on February 7th, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day encourages African Americans and all Americans to “Get Educated, Get Involved, and Get Tested”. For more information on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day or how to get tested visit www.blackaidsday.org or www.hivtest.org.
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (Oakland-D) is a leader in the fight against the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. A longtime supporter of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Rep. Lee introduces a resolution every year in support of their goals and ideals. Additionally, she has introduced legislation on the National AIDS Strategy and has introduced legislation to raise awareness about HIV testing. She is the only member of Congress serving on both the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education which have jurisdiction over all US global and domestic AIDS programs.
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