Perspectives S35/Ep36HIV/AIDS Awareness

In the United States, Blacks/African Americans are disproportionately impacted by HIV compared to other races and ethnicities. In 2021, there were approximately 36,100 new HIV diagnoses and Black/African Americans made up 40% of the new cases; of which 39% were Black/African American men who have sex with men. If current HIV diagnoses rates persist, about 1 in 2 Black men who have sex with men (MSM) will be diagnosed with HIV during their lifetime. But HIV is no longer a death sentence. People with HIV who take HIV medication as prescribed and reach and maintain viral suppression cannot sexually transmit the virus to their partner. This finding highlights the importance of getting people tested for HIV and linked to HIV care and treatment if they test positive so they can get the support they need and get access to medication. Chrissy Abrahms Woodland, Director of the Division of Metropolitan HIV/AIDS Programs joins the show. A team from her organization is in Atlanta during Atlanta Black Pride to raise awareness, provide testing and support for a community at risk and to encourage people to find health care providers through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.