HIV/AIDS still a scourge for African-Americans

SAN LEANDRO — Liz Bates, of Oakland, lost a dear friend Friday, a young, beautiful woman of 28 who had been infected with HIV through a blood transfusion when she was an infant.

"She was so young," said Bates, who is also HIV-positive and works as a peer advocate for other women infected with the virus that causes AIDS. "A lot of people think AIDS has practically gone away. It's not in the news like it was, and with all the new medications and increased life expectancy, you don't hear about people dying every week like you did in the 1980s.

"And also because of the stigma, people don't want to talk about it," she said. "But it's here, and it's a growing problem, especially among African-American women and teens. And we need to get information out there about prevention."

Bates took part Saturday in "The Real Conversation — Sistahs Getting Real about HIV/AIDS," a one-day seminar discussing ways to promote prevention of the virus in the African-American community. HIV infection is the leading cause of death for black women ages 25 to 34, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Presented by the Oakland chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, in conjunction with the National Association of Women Business Owners, the event was held at the New Linen Life Gallery in San Leandro and drew about 100 people.

Keynote speaker Tony Wafford, director of health and wellness for the National

Barbara Williams, president of the Oakland chapter of the women's coalition, acknowledged that — with current headlines about swine flu, politics and the economy — the AIDS epidemic is often pushed to the media's back burner, and the ensuing lack of discussion only breeds more cases of HIV infection.

"Certainly in the African-American community, this issue is on the front burner," Williams said. "We have a pandemic going on. Every nine-and-a-half minutes, someone in the U.S. is infected by HIV. We have to talk about this. If people don't know the risks, they engage in risky behaviors."

Oakland has the highest concentration of HIV cases in Alameda County, Williams said, and more women and young people are becoming infected. Nationally, more than half the new reported cases of HIV infection occur in people 25 or younger. African-American teens, who make up only 16 percent of U.S. teenagers, accounted for 69 percent of new teen AIDS cases in 2005, according to figures from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

HIV/AIDS is considered 100 percent preventable. To reduce the risk, first consider abstinence. If you are sexually active, know your partner's history. If he or she has had sex before or abused drugs, make sure your partner gets tested. Condoms aren't absolutely effective, but can help protect against HIV and other STDs. Stay faithful to one person who is faithful to you. The more partners, the higher the risk. Get tested annually and talk about your sexual health with your partner and your health care provider.

For a free HIV test anytime, call CAL-PEP at 510-874-7850. For details about the "Sistahs Getting Real" program, call 510-287-2534 or go to www.onehundredblackwomen.com.

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