National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is February 7, 2010.

The tenth annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) is February 7, 2010. NBHAAD is a national mobilization effort encouraging African Americans nationwide to get educated, get tested, get involved, and get treated. NBHAAD reminds us that although we have made tremendous progress toward raising awareness of HIV/AIDS among African Americans, we must continue to address the harsh realities that continue to place African Americans at increased risk for HIV.

On February 7, organizations nationwide—many with CDC support—will host events aimed at increasing awareness of the epidemic and offer HIV tests to African Americans in communities hardest hit by the epidemic. In observance of this important day, we ask that you take time to read a media statement by Dr. Kevin Fenton, Director of CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, available online at http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/NBHAAD2010.html.

HIV remains a devastating crisis for African Americans; and for many years, CDC has led nationwide efforts in partnership with African American leaders and organizations to raise awareness and mobilize efforts around the burden of HIV/AIDS in African American communities across the United States. Recently, the American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) published an article titled, “A Review of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Response to the HIV/AIDS Crisis among Blacks in the United States, 1981—2009.” The paper gives an in-depth look at these efforts, highlights new opportunities, and proposes next steps. The article is available online at http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/aa/resources/journals/sutton_et_al_ajph_2009.pdf.

Let us not forget that racial disparities continue to persist. CDC authors have published an article in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) titled “Racial/Ethnic Disparities among Children with Diagnoses of Perinatal HIV Infection – 34 States, 2004-2007.” The article shows that despite substantial declines in the number of HIV-infected infants in the United States, racial/ethnic minorities, especially African Americans, continue to be most significantly impacted by perinatal transmission. Although black and Hispanic children only accounted for 37 percent of the population under the age of one, these groups represented 85 percent of all perinatal HIV diagnoses. Because the risk of transmission from an HIV-infected mother to her child can be greatly reduced with effective interventions, the authors emphasize it is critical all women – especially African Americans and Latinas – have access to HIV prevention, reproductive health care, prenatal care and, if necessary, HIV treatment. The article is available online at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5904a2.htm.

At CDC, reducing the burden of HIV/AIDS among African Americans remains one of our top HIV prevention priorities. We will continue to work with partners to eliminate the unjust disparity in HIV/AIDS experienced by African Americans and confront the tough issues that allow HIV to continue to affect our nation. Thank you for your commitment to HIV prevention.


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