National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Coordinated by the Strategic Leadership Council, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is observed each year on February 7 to increase HIV education, testing, community involvement, and treatment among black communities.

From Avert.org –

In the USA, African American/black people are more affected by HIV than any other ethnic group. This group accounted for 44% of all new HIV infections in 2014 despite only making up 12% of the population.16

At the end of 2014, an estimated 471,500 African American/black people were living with HIV, making up 43% of the total number of people living with HIV. One in six were unaware of their status.17

Among all African American/black people diagnosed with HIV in 2016, the largest proportion were men who have sex with men who accounted for six out of ten diagnoses.18

Between 2011 and 2015, HIV diagnoses fell by 8% among African Americans/black people overall,  except for among African American/black men who have sex with men aged 25-34 (see ‘men who have sex with men’ section above).

New diagnoses fell by 20% among African American/black women, however rates of new diagnoses are still high compared to women from other ethnic groups, with 4,560 new diagnoses in 2016.19

New infections have also fallen by 16% among heterosexual African American/black men and by 39% among African American/black people who inject drugs.20

In honor of Black History Month and National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, The Grand Rapids Red Project will be hosting a free event at the Golden Age Brewery event space upstairs Creston Brewery! The event will consist of a family style dinner, screening of the film 90 Days, table talks and open discussion on HIV and how it impacts the Black community. Be sure to save the date and don’t miss out on a great conversation, food, and experience brought to you by Red Project on February 7, 2019 from 6:00 until 8:00pm.

Red Project Event – Facebook