HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is Tuesday February 7 and Riverside County health officials want residents to remember the African Americans in our community who have been infected and affected by the disease.

“Raising awareness about the importance of education and screening is a key tool in preventing the spread of HAV/AIDS. This message is particularly important in the African American community which is disproportionately affected by this illness,” said Susan Harrington, director of the Riverside County Department of Public Health.

In Riverside County, African American woman are four times more likely to be infected than women in general. In addition, African Americans make up 6 percent of the population in Riverside County, but account for 9 percent of reported HIV and AIDS cases

As of September 2011, 676 African Americans have been diagnosed with HIV or AIDS in Riverside County and 436 are living with the disease. 

Health officials recommend routine testing, which allows those infected to benefit from earlier access to life-extending treatment and reduces the risk of infecting their partners.

Since 1981, more than 30 million people worldwide have died from HIV-related causes.  In the U.S., African Americans represent 14 percent of the population, but account for more than 43 percent of new HIV infections.  Nationwide, HIV/AIDS is the third leading cause of death among African Americans between 35 and 44.

The Riverside County HIV/AIDS Program provides free confidential HIV testing and education at various locations throughout the county. Information on sites and times is available on their website at www.rivcohivaids.org.