SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
Friday, June 27, is National HIV Testing Day and African Americans in Detroit should be acutely aware of its significance.
As the HIV epidemic continues to skyrocket in Black communities across the nation, in Black Detroit, it has gone through the stratosphere. Simply put, HIV among African Americans in Detroit is rising at an alarming rate.
To proactively address HIV and AIDS related issues in the Motor City, a free testing fair will be held on the aforementioned date at the Institute for Population Health, located at 5400 E. Seven Mile Rd. The testing runs from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
“As we speak today, the city of Detroit and Wayne County have the highest rates of infection of sexually transmitted diseases in the United States,” said Robin Cole, president and CEO of Professional Medical Center, the organization partnering with Gilead Science, Inc. and the Institute of Population Health to sponsor the event. “And the fastest growing HIV population in Detroit, and across the nation, is women between the ages 18 and 44.”
In addition to HIV screening, Cole said the testing fair will test for other sexual transmitted diseases (STDs) such as syphilis, which is rising in Detroit at a far more rapid rate than other major urban areas. There will be classes disseminating information about contracting HIV and AIDS, which will include debunking or confirming mythical stories and other reports on HIV and AIDS.
Additionally, the testing fair will screen for high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol levels and several other health conditions. Test results will be revealed in confidence on the spot and counselors will be available to discuss results and subsequent treatment options, if necessary.
While many screenings with take place on that day, HIV testing will be the main focus.
“There are so many people today that are walking around and don’t know that they have the virus,” said Dr. David K. Wash, a Professional Medical Center physician.
“In the United States, nearly 1.1 million people are living with HIV, and almost one in five don’t know they are infected with the virus. Getting tested is the first step to finding out if you have HIV. If you have the HIV virus, getting medical care and taking medicine regularly helps you to live a longer, healthier life and also lowers the chances of passing HIV on to others.”
According to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the nation’s foremost agency established to protect Americans from health threats, HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) attacks the human body’s ability to fight off disease and can cause AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), which leaves infected individuals vulnerable to numerous diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis.
To accomplish its mission, CDC conducts ongoing critical scientific research and provides health information that protects the nation against dangerous health threats, and is ready to respond when such threats arise.
Although risk factors for HIV are the same for everyone, some racial/ethnic groups are more impacted than others, given their percentage of the population. Such is the case for African Americans nationally and in the city of Detroit.
CDC’s published facts are as follows.
African Americans are the ethnic group most affected by HIV, accounting for an estimated 44% of all new HIV infections among adults and adolescents. In addition, the rate of new HIV infection in African Americans is eight times that of Whites based on population size, and Black gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) represents an estimated 72% of new infections among all African-American men.
In Detroit, according to the Michigan Department of Health, 64% of gay/homosexual Black males that are HIV-positive are in the 18 to 25 age range, which represents the highest rate.
According to Cole and Wash, in most cases the infected males are unaware of their status. However, Black women between the ages of 18 and 44 represent the fastest growing group of individuals infected with the HIV virus.
“The rate among Black women of acquiring the HIV virus is extremely high because of men having sex with other men and then having sexual intercourse with women,” she said.
“Many of these men are married Monday through Friday, but are having sex with other men on the weekend. The reason the rate of HIV is going up in Black women is because these Black men will not wear condoms while having sex with other men, and subsequently go back and infect their wives or girlfriends.”
One of the greatest myths about HIV is that the virus is only spread by gay men or women having sexual contact. However, the CDC has asserted for years that individuals can also contract HIV by sharing needles/syringes with someone who has HIV.
On a lesser scale regarding contracting HIV, although more prevalent years ago, are babies born to infected mothers, as well as individuals receiving blood transfusions, blood products or organs/tissues that are contaminated with HIV, the latter of which is now much better regulated.
Moving forward, Cole said she would like to see more funding and information made available to combat HIV in Detroit, as well as see more testing done on young people on the high school level.
“That’s the population that we are really beginning to see on the rise,” said Cole, whose organization tests for and treats individuals with HIV at its four Detroit locations year-round. “Just like high school kids need to have immunizations to enter school, they should also have an HIV test.”
“I believe HIV testing should be a preventive measure. That’s why National HIV Testing Day in Detroit is so important. People need to take the test, take control,” Wash said.
For more information about the free National HIV Testing Day on June 27, call the Institute of Population Health at 313.309.9350 or 313.402.5263. For information on HIV testing and treatment services offered year-round through Professional Medical Center, call 313.925.4540.
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