National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day – A Model for the Asian American Community?

February 7th was the 11th anniversary of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. HIV/AIDS has had a disproportionate impact on the Black community in this country.

Here’s quote from the CDC website:

“By race/ethnicity, African Americans face the most severe burden of HIV in the United States. At the end of 2007, blacks accounted for almost half (46%) of people living with a diagnosis of HIV infection in the 37 states and 5 US-dependent areas with long-term, confidential, name-based HIV reporting.”

State, local and national organizations have created and implemented activities focused on motivating African Americans to get tested and learn their HIV status, as well as educating communities about the importance of prevention. No doubt these efforts have saved lives.

It would seem high time that the Asian American communities across the nation organize a similar day related to hepatitis B. Asian Americans constitute more than 50% of all individuals chronically infected with hepatitis B, yet there is little national attention to this problem. I have contacted a colleague of mine with the CDC Viral Hepatitis Division about the possibility of replicating a national HBV recognition day in the Asian American community. I will keep you posted as to his response. However, it should be said that regardless of the CDC interest in this initiative, Asian American communities throughout the country should organize and act.

- Doug Hirano, MPH, APCA Executive Director