Horrible, the actual percentage has to be higher because not every knows their HIV status. HIV/AIDS Rate in D.C. Hits 3% Considered a 'Severe' Epidemic, Every Mode of Transmission Is Increasing, City Study Finds By Jose Antonio Vargas and Darryl Fears Washington Post Staff Writers At least 3 percent of District residents have HIV or AIDS, a total that far surpasses the 1 percent threshold that constitutes a "generalized and severe" epidemic, according to a report scheduled to be released by health officials tomorrow. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/14/AR2009031402176.html?hpid%3Dtopnews&sub=AR
http://www.fighthivindc.org/2008_07_01_archive.html Malcolm X would be absolutely disgraced with the current African American population right now. I'm sure this is someone else's fault though, that we as African Americans can't keep it in our pants, have 32792 children that we can't support and have a disgusting figure like that hiv rate stat. Incredible.
Where in the hell is the so-called African American leadership on this issue? Why is there not more being debated within the African American communities about this epidemic. We see what this is doing in Africa, the Caribbean and Brazil. Like most issues being swepted under the rug there is denial and people just do not give a damn. I would like to see a thread on how HIV is affecting IR relationships now that the stigma is out there. Oh, I forgot nobody want to talk about it.
Yeah, that is alarming; I believe that the percentage is higher though. Maybe having “Rapid HIV Testing” in every club/lounge in the DC area could be helpful; a person would find out if he/she has is HIV positive within a short period of time. Abstinence isn’t the only response to this; for as humans, we can’t keep it in our pants. The problem is not the lack of information about “safe sex”. The high percentage could be caused by outside factors: cheating (affair of boyfriend/girlfriend or husband/wife), customs, etc.
We live in the era of the Internet. Information is everywhere. The media is all in our faces with the most provocative programming anyway. I do not buy this there is a lack of information. The problem is there is no will to put it out there without offending someone or challenging someone's cherished belief's on both sides of the political spectrum. Hell., we let just about anyone coming into the country now without being medically checked like it use to be because we do not want to offend.
Blame the abstinence-only sexual education implemented in our schools over the last decade. Talk about reaping what we sow...there's so many fucking pregnant teenagers that attend the high school I work at, we've implemented a Teenage Pregnancy Program (TAPP). Most students choose not to join this program because of the high behavioral and academic standards it holds the girls to. You can only have one child and be in the program; more than one gets you kicked out. The general public doesn't give a damn about anyone with HIV or AIDS. Most people would rather be sanctimonious and blame the person with the disease.
What is with these high infection rates? They give away condoms for free. I wonder how many of these infections come from drugs.News coming from Washington DC is always bad. The crime is horrible and now this crap.Send Bill Cosby down to blame them all.
No, according to the CDC, the national HIV rate as of December 2008 is less than 1%. PDF document: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/factsheets/pdf/transmission.pdf
Seriously dealing with the HIV rate in the black community would require embracing the problems of gay/bisexual blacks. Given that the church, by far, remains the most influential institution in the black community, this is unlikely.
I live in the DC area and this should be of concern of every African-American male and female. If you can't afford a doctor for an AIDS test and may believe you are infected go to the Red Cross and give blood. If you are infected they will contact you privately and give you suggestions on what to do. If you don't have the virus, please use protection.
In most metropolitian/urban areas, anyone can walk in to the local Health department and can request testing for STD or STI. The Dept. usually provide: 1. Free testing for HIV, Syphilis, Gc, Chy and Trich. 2. Free Safe Sex education/Counseling 3. Free condom and lubricant
Saty……This a good informative piece…..I wonder how many brothers will read it and let it register……….3% translates to approximately 15,000 folks are walking around in D.C and irresponsibly spreading their deadly shit…..but hold on……lets get ready to crawl under the nearest rock in shame ~ ~ ~ (95% of these H.I.V positive carriers are black). There is also a study that says similar numbers exist in most of the countries large urban cities. Now what’s also shocking is that we are not talking about Atlanta or key West------but Washington D.C., the nation’s capital with all the ambassadors and foreign dignitaries and their press ready to write home and spread the word that the sporty American coon is not such a safe sex bet after-all. We must come to grips that the 25 year party of casual sex is full of stray bullets. Brothers, as a rule, never liked (wrapping it up)…….and now we are paying with our asses! When you mother burys you, she will aslo have to bury that 10 inch pride and joy, that you couldn’t control, right there with you in the casket. Solution----get your self a honey, exit the game, marry her, and rely on her alone from here on out, for your bliss
ask Magic Johnson oddly enough tho, he never passed HIV on to his wife, who was HIV negative last time I checked
Don't really care. Only people I feel sorry for are the decent people that have a spouse that cheated/secretely used drugs and passed it on to them and children born with it.
ppl who have aids or hiv can still not pass it on to their children with new drugs and also getting a c-section instead of coming out normally through the vaginal canal.
