A Dec. 5 meeting of the Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN) focused on the impact of HIV/AIDS in the African-American community. Charles Nelson of South Side Help Center, Michael Grego of Near North Health Services Corp., and Yaa Simpson of the Chicago Department of Public Health were panelists for "Committed to Living: Advocating for Our Brothers and Sisters in Our Own Backyard."

Grego said the biggest barrier to HIV/AIDS prevention in the black community is a lack of education, noting that churches focus on abstinence, which statistics show usually is ignored. Many prevention messages are also fear-based, which will not work, he said.

Nelson noted that racism, sexism, and unemployment deter the community from getting accurate information. He said until equality is achieved there will always be populations whose health care needs are served disproportionately.

Simpson said researchers and policymakers need to look beyond labels about sexual preferences when developing education and prevention efforts. Rather, she said they should focus on specific behaviors that increase risk.

"We talk about diabetes," Simpson said. "We talk about cancer. We talk about HIV. I'm not negating the importance of HIV." The way to destigmatize HIV/AIDS is to put it in the context of other diseases, she said.

TPAN's "Committed to Learn" workshops run monthly. For more information, telephone 773-989-9400 or visit www.tpan.com.

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