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Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities
Progress Against the HIV/AIDS Epidemic
Ongoing HIV/AIDS Challenges
Progress Against the HIV/AIDS Epidemic
Responding to HIV/AIDS in African American and Other Minority Communities. Multiple Federal efforts have been undertaken to address the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS among minority populations. - The President's Health Disparities Initiative. In February 1998, the President announced a major initiative to address six areas of health disparities experienced by racial and ethnic minority populations, including HIV/AIDS. http://www.raceandhealth.omhrc.gov/
- Emergency Funding. In 1999, the Congressional Black Caucus pronounced AIDS a crisis in the African-American community. This action was followed by funds for programs targeting African Americans and other minority populations. HHS divisions were charged to rapidly allocate the funds through various initiatives and grants to communities to conduct prevention and care and treatment activities. Additional resources were earmarked in the Secretary's Emergency Fund to target minority communities with assistance. The Leadership Campaign on AIDS and the Crisis Response Teams Initiative are two groundbreaking projects of HHS that are responding to the HIV/AIDS crisis in communities of color.
- Coordination of Federal Minority HIV/AIDS Efforts. HHS has undertaken many efforts to address HIV/AIDS in minority communities. Examples include convening national forums to identify strategies for eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health and agency-specific efforts such as promoting increased NIH research on HIV/AIDS in minority communities.
To Learn More:
HHS Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative
http://www.omhrc.gov/omh/aids/aidshome.htm
Hispanic Agenda for Action
http://www.haa.omhrc.gov/
Asian American and Pacific Islander Action Agenda
http://www.aapi.omhrc.gov/
US/UK Collaborative Initiative on Racial and Ethnic Health
http://www.omhrc.gov/us-uk/
- Ongoing Federal Efforts. Given the epidemic's disproportionate impact on racial and ethnic communities, many HHS efforts focus on minority populations on an ongoing basis, rather than as special initiatives. For instance, the Ryan White CARE Act administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) funds an array of primary medical care and supportive services for underserved populations in communities and States, with special attention to addressing the epidemic's impact on racial and ethnic populations. Federal HIV prevention funds through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) includes resources targeted to those most affected by HIV.
Ongoing HIV/AIDS Challenges
Disproportionate Impact of HIV/AIDS Among African Americans and Other Groups. HIV/AIDS is increasingly affecting racial and ethnic minority groups (who make up 25% of the U.S. population but nearly 54% of AIDS cases). Hardest hit are specific communities and populations (e.g., gay/bisexual men of color, injection drug users, women, youth, persons over 50). These changes in the impact of the epidemic increase demand for publicly funded services because populations affected most by HIV/AIDS rely heavily on public programs for their care and treatment. Care and treatment programs must shift to meet new needs. Prevention programs and research, largely Federally-funded, must also shift. Gaps in services can be addressed by developing the infrastructure capacity of community-based organizations that serve or could serve minority communities affected by HIV/AIDS. Importantly, a consistent level of services must be provided to all populations and geographic areas impacted by HIV/AIDS.
To Learn More:
Statistics: HIV/AIDS in Communities of Color
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