New York: AIDS Activists Urge Residents to Be Tested

On Feb. 7, National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, Leland Vann, diagnosed with AIDS in 1999, spoke during a program at the Frank E. Merriweather Jr. Library in Buffalo, N.Y. It was one of three programs in the city to encourage people to be tested for and educated about HIV.

According to CDC, HIV/AIDS is a leading cause of death for African Americans nationwide. Blacks with HIV/AIDS often do not live as long as other races and ethnic groups with HIV because of poverty and stigma, experts say.

Figures from the New York State Department of Health show 66 newly diagnosed AIDS cases in Erie County in 2004, the last year for which figures were available. The number is down from 76 new AIDS diagnoses in 2003. There were 43 newly diagnosed HIV cases in 2004, up by one from 2003.

New HIV cases among blacks in the eight counties of Western New York numbered 30 in 2004, down from 31 in 2003. Forty-one blacks in Western New York were diagnosed with AIDS in 2004, down from 51 in 2003.

Leaders attribute the decreases to better outreach and education programs and greater cooperation from church groups and clergy. Three years ago, the local African-American community formed an affiliate of the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS. The affiliate uses health fairs, church fairs, community events, and gospel meetings to promote HIV/AIDS awareness, said the Rev. James A. Lewis III, chairperson of the local group.

Kahli Mootoo of the national commission said many blacks are not tested because they cannot afford a doctor's visit or fear the test results. New medications have caused some of the fear of HIV/AIDS to abate, he said.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23, the affiliate will provide free HIV programs in the Merriweather Library, 1324 Jefferson Avenue.

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