Illinois: State Health Chief Defends Record on Black HIV Rates

Appearing yesterday before a joint hearing of the Illinois House and Senate Appropriations Committees, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Eric Whitaker said HIV prevention efforts in black communities need to be tailored to the population. "What works in East St. Louis might not work on the South or West Sides of Chicago," Whitaker testified at a hearing called by lawmakers demanding more accountability from HIV prevention programs targeting black and minority communities.

Among Chicago blacks, HIV is diagnosed at an annual rate of 60 cases per 100,000, compared with 20 per 100,000 for whites and 21 per 100,000 for Latinos, according to the Chicago Department of Public Health. State officials attribute the dissimilar rates to the effectiveness of HIV prevention campaigns in the gay white community and the lack of similar efforts in black areas.

South Side Help Center Executive Director Betty Smith said poor budget management in Springfield means there is little or no state money available for her program. Smith said the majority of HIV/AIDS money spent in Chicago in the past 20 years has gone toward treating gay white men. She said her center, which operates on a budget of $3.2 million, would need an addition $3.5 million to reach more minorities. Smith said her facility receives federal and local money but no state funds.

Most programs to fight HIV in black neighborhoods have not even been tried, said Robin Miller, a professor of community and prevention research in the psychology department at the University of Illinois-Chicago. "We're in a pretty sorry state in that we haven't even tested or imported these programs in these communities," she said.

Back to other news for November 14, 2003