Congresswoman Lee Marks National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Oakland, CA – Congresswoman Barbara Lee, a co-chair of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, released this statement marking National Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day:
“In recent years, we have made great strides in providing HIV/AIDS education, counseling, testing and treatment to women and girls, both at home and abroad.
However, women continue to be underserved as we work to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
In 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that twenty percent of new HIV infections were amongst women. African American and Latina women continue to be disproportionately affected by this disease.
We must continue working to provide culturally and linguistically-competent outreach, support and healthcare to these communities.
In addition to disparities in infection rates, women continue to be underserved in treatment and care.
While an estimated eighty-eight percent of women living with HIV know their status, only forty-five percent are engaged in care and thirty-two percent have achieved viral suppression, the goal of treatment.
These statistics show a clear need to continue investments in targeted education, care, support and treatment for women, especially women of color.”
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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and co-chair of the Progressive Caucus. She serves as chair of the Whip’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity.