Seek to Equalize on World AIDS Day
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 38 million people were living with HIV/AIDS globally in 2019. In the same year, there were 690,000 AIDS-related deaths worldwide. In the US, based on the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 32,100 new HIV infections occurred in the United States in 2021, a 12% decline from 2017 and yet still 32,100 too many.
Today is the 35th commemoration of World AIDS Day, an annual event focused on remembering those we have lost, raising awareness about the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and supporting those living with the disease. The day also serves as a reminder that despite progress, including declining numbers of new HIV infections and the development of antiretroviral therapy (ART) that suppress the virus and prevent it from replicating in the body, stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS remain a significant barrier to prevention, testing, and treatment. Many people living with HIV/AIDS face discrimination in their communities, workplaces, and even in healthcare settings.
Other challenges remain in the fight against HIV/AIDS. These include inadequate funding for HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs, limited and often unbalanced access to healthcare in some parts of the world, including here in the United States, and the lack of a cure for the disease.
In the United States, it is essential to note that HIV diagnoses are not evenly distributed across states and regions. The highest rates of new diagnoses continue to occur in the South, accounting for more than half (52%) of the 32,100 estimated new HIV infections in 2021.
Furthermore, HIV continues to have a disproportionate impact on specific populations, particularly racial and ethnic minorities and gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). In 2021, according to the CDC, the highest rates of new HIV infections were among Black/African Americans (37.3%), Hispanic/Latinx (18.9%), and persons of multiple races (17.0%). To provide perspective, Black/African Americans make up approximately 12% of the population of the United States. A more alarming fact is the US Department of Health and Human Services has highlighted the increasing number of HIV infections among Black heterosexual women.
To address the challenges, both internationally and in the United States, continued efforts to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, promote prevention and testing, and provide access to affordable treatment and care are essential. It is fitting then that the theme for World AIDS Day 2023 is "Equalize," a call to action to end all forms of bias faced by those living with HIV/AIDS and that everyone deserves equal access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care.
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With this backdrop and to debut a frequent series on the More Elephant podcast that seeks to listen and learn from leaders in the non-profit space who are building next-gen solutions and changing the world, our newest conversation is with Emil Wilbekin, Founder and CEO of Native Son.
Native Son is a global platform created to inspire and empower Black gay men, emphasizing wellness, empowerment, and amplification. Their mission is to harness the collective power of Black gay/queer men to ensure that the voices, visibility, and lived experiences of the community are elevated in all of the communities in which we exist and never again disregarded. Emil is one of the many leaders at the forefront of contextualizing the Black queer experience, engaging in and formulating conversations, including HIV prevention and care, and linking health, economic and social justice to elevate the lived experience for his community throughout the world.
Join us in conversation on December 5th at moreelephant.com/podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.
