HIV/AIDS in Black America

[Quasheema]

With the upcoming election on November 04, 2008, how do you feel Senators Obama and McCain will respond to this national crisis?

[Quasheema]

Still a sensitive topic for people of color, however, we can run and hide, but the reality is that our friends and love ones are dying from AIDS... When will we take this issue seriously? Will it be when your 13 year old daughter says she is pregnant and you thought that the only concern would be an abortion, but no, a baby was not all you were faced with......Now the doctors are telling you that your daughter tested positive for HIV. Guess who gave it to her.....the same "baby daddy" that was born HIV positive 15 years prior.

When will we respond?

[Tamika]

Qua, you are so right I just lost my 39 year old sister to AIDS she was a POWERFUL ACTIVIST for HIV AND AIDS but it didn't save her life!and it really became so realistic to me that people are suffering all over the world and kids to grandmothers are being hit with this epidemic and not always by choice. I submit to everyone be safe, be responsible, get tested and be honest! EDUCATE YOURSELVES AND PASS THE KNOWLEDGE ON!!! a voice needs to be heard.
Tamika

[Quasheema]

Peace and Blessings to you Tamika. I am very sorry to hear about your sister. I often wonder what would happen if schools and clinics were taken away like art and music in urban schools. Would we then begin to utilize all of the education that is provided to us about HIV? It is imperative that we STAND and SHOUT for attention to this national crisis. We can not keep waiting for this to become personal. So many people are voting for Senator Obama because of the want for a black man in the White House. Why can't we vote for changes in our cities because we want to see a change?

[Eyitayo]

The best they can do from their position as president is continue funding prevention and treatment programs out there.

But ultimately we cant shift responsibility for this epidemic as it stands today to the government. HIV/AIDS is something each of us has to individually respond to by our choices in sexual partners, in sharing needles, and condom use.

[Quasheema]

It has been over 25 years since HIV invaded our lives. Obviously, their best has not been enough! It is not about shifting responsibility to the government, but asking for this very same government to take a stand! If you research data, funding prevention programs have been cut and treatment programs are not top priority. We still have people who die, while waiting to get approved for medications.

Reality is this, not all individuals out there is having sex by choice. Rape, molestation, and incest are still very real... Personal accountability......Our children are old enough to be sent to fight a war with no promising futures, but here we sit in 2008 and will not hold our nation accountable for lives lost to this epidemic. We so want to save everyone else, but what about hard working people that are being killed everyday by taxes? Is it ok to release 700 Billion dollars to individuals who should have known better? But say, "HIV/AIDS is something each of us has to individually respond to by our choices"? Much respect to your personal opinion.

[Eyitayo]

First I want to say, these are great topics you're bringing up, which is why Im responding. So please dont take offense if we disagree...

That said, I agree with you that our health care system should be fighting this epidemic and giving rape, incest, and molestation victims the best chance possible.

However, I think we can also agree that the vast majority of new HIV cases are not a result of any of those things. People are simply engaged in consensual high risk sex with little regard for the consequences whether they be unwanted children or a sexually transmitted infection. That sounds like an issue of personal choice and bad decision-making.

Government spending can only go so far in addressing this problem. Specifically in offering treatment and research on cures. Both of which are after the fact solutions, which are extremely expensive and provide no guarantees that they will work.

But making a personal decision not to engage in risky sexual behavior or drug use almost never fails. That's where public health and social marketing campaigns come in to play, influencing people behaviors and encouraging healthy behaviors. Government funding SHOULD match the need in that regard but I dont know how much more money than what is already being spent should be dumped into convincing people to protect themselves. HIV/AIDS is but ONE major threat society is confronted with. Leaders have to make the hard decisions about what the priorities will be. HIV is but one priority, but in the scheme of things I would rather the government focus on social problems and endeavors individuals are not capable of handling by themselves. Individuals can't fix the credit and lending crisis by themselves, BUT individuals can protect themselves from HIV/AIDS by simply wearing condoms and refraining from sex with high risk individuals.

[Quasheema]

None taken! I just feel that you are very naive to this issue as we move forward and our children move forward..... Think about your comment, "But making a personal decision not to engage in risky sexual behavior or drug use almost never fails." I want to undersand your comment....Are you saying that if people just make a personal decision that we would not have to worry about this topic? If yes, you are sadly mistaken. My track record expants back almost 17 years in this field and I can testify that "just making a plan" does not work. Until we go deep into the real reason people make irresponsible decision, ie, self-esteem, we will continue to have these but so neccessary forums.

[connie johnson]

Well this is my take on the situation. As a person with a very personal stake in this subject I could only hope that the man chosen as our next president would find the AIDS epidemic important enough to continue funding prevention and health care for those infected or potentially infected.
Eyitayo- I agree that the best prevention method is abstinence and good decision making. However, if you have ever had unprotected sex with anyone that makes any of us a potential carrier for the disease. My mother slept with her fiancee and contracted the disease and died 5 years later, I've slept with boyfriends thinking i was their only partner and contracted HIV several years ago. When you are removed from the reality of the havoc this disease is causing to our community its really easy to explain it away as good or bad decision making. Yes, personal responsiblity is definitely a factor but what about children born with this disease and women sleeping with cheating husbands or vice versa. There are many ways that the disease is being spread and until your struggle becomes my struggle and vise versa it will continue to be a us and them issue.

[Eyitayo]

I think everyone has been impacted by the HIV epidemic, either directly or in losing people that they care for and love. So my opinion isnt one based on an aloof disregard for those living with the disease. In fact that Im even participating in the discussion should indicate some level of concern on my part.

And because I am concerned Im a lot quicker to support the solution that people are empowered to apply to their lives moreso than the solution we have no real say in its implementation.

This isnt to say that I dont support research, prevention and health care but it is to say I really question whether throwing more money (than we are already spending) at the problem is going to be effective when the bulk of the problem comes from personal choices. Thats just me being honest.

If we're talking about policy and what a policy maker can do to solve the problem, how is policy going to address children being born with the disease, infidelity and the other modes of passing the disease between one another? In the case of children the government can and does fund programs that provide medication to reduce the likelihood of transmission between a mother and unborn child. So programs like that already exist, yet the disease continues. At this point the real struggle in health care in that regard is ensuring women are tested and accept prenatal care. But again whether that happens comes down to a personal choice...As for infidelity I have absolutely no idea what the government is supposed to do about infections transmitted between committed partners...

So my point is that I TOO agree with providing health care and conducting research; however HIV is not like other social problems where the government can do something and the problem goes away. The government is doing something, yet HIV is spreading rapidly, particularly in our community. That tells me we cant rely on the government to save us from this epidemic.

We got to make some moves on our part protecting ourselves.

[connie johnson]

As for policy makers creating policies that can and will effectively address the needs of those fighting this disease, I think that they are truly too far removed from the epidemic to care which is where we come in as a community in an effort to influence those who make the decisions. I can't expect govt to to do everything to correct this wrong but I can ask that my tax dollar be spent in a way that benefits the issues that directly affect my community.
I agree that we must find a way to protect ourselves but how do we accomplish that when people die each day in shame because of the stigma of HIV AIDS.

[Quasheema]

Thank you Connie for responding! You look great! I love your last quote. ....... "Until your struggle becomes my struggle and vice versa, it will continue to be a us and them issue." Connie broke down some great points...All are affected by this disease. Just look at the response that we have gotten. Out of over 1200 members, only two of you guys responded to the forum..

[Tamboura "Tam" Murrell]

First of all, whether you are directly affected by this disease or not, I truly thank all of you for your concerns regarding this issue. It is people such as yourselves that will eventually lead to more and more people being educated on this epidemic, excuse me pandemic now. I would like to say that there are no wrong answers posted here. I agree with all of you. I truly, truly understand what Qua, and Connie are saying, however, Eyitayo does make a strong point. It matters not how much money the government spends on education, treatments, and cure-finding on HIV-AIDS. What it comes down to is wise personal decision-making. Let me further expound on what has already been said. The vast majority of HIV-AIDS cases are not from rapes, blood transfusions, needle sharing, or passed down from birth. It is from practicing unsafe sex. Now notice I said the "vast majority". I am well aware that the methods mentioned comprise a high percentage of worldwide cases, but they aren't the majority. The government cannot prevent people from making extremely poor decisions simply by pouring money into it. Now they may help prevent by funding better and more programs that educate the general public on the disease, but ultimately it is up to the individual to make the choice. Education, or the lack thereof does play a vital role in the prevention/further spreading of this disease, however, it cannot stop with this government. It's not a black/latino thing, it's not even an American thing, remember, it's a pandemic, it's worldwide. Now you might argue, "well let's just concentrate on one country at a time", and I don't think that any one of you would be totally incorrect in having that line of thinking. However, there are sooooo many people coming into this country on a daily basis, legal, and illegal that you really can't afford to think like that. Example, I was in Africa,(Mombasa, Kenya), a few years ago, and did you know that there is a deadly rumor there that if a person who is HIV positive has sex with a virgin, they can be completely cured? CAN YOU IMAGINE THAT!!!!! So now you have people going out searching for virgins to rape/have sex with, (consentually), so that you can be healed. This is not the case just in Kenya, I've heard that this is going on in Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Ignorance on a global scale is still a huge enemy! Listen ladies, we can point fingers and debate all day and night, but what it boils down to is that this is prophecy being fulfilled. And although this is true, it doesn't excuse individuals from poor decision making, nor elected officials, or others in leadership from doing their part in the prevention/curing of this disease. The most important thing that we can do is to continue to pray for further direction, pray that God may extend His grace and mercy upon us, and keep each other lifted up in prayer. Again thank you all. God bless