| Dear Friend in the Fight Against HIV and AIDS:
The room erupted with enthusiastic outbursts of approval at our Debate Watch Party in reaction to moderator Gwen Ifill's question about AIDS and Black women. Her question was quite specific: "…I want to talk to you about AIDS, and not about AIDS in China or Africa, but AIDS right here in this country, where Black women between the ages of 25 and 44 are 13 times more likely to die of the disease than their counterparts." Momentarily motionless, hardly breathing, we awaited the responses from the two 2004 Vice Presidential candidates, only to have our half-hopeful anticipation turn to exasperation. Both Cheney and Edwards responded in Media Training 101 style, by using the opportunity to get across other platform messages - as if asked completely different questions. At the end of his response, incumbent Vice President Dick Cheney did return to the original question with an open admission, that he had "not heard those numbers with respect to African American women." That moment in history was probably the most profound confirmation of what Black health advocates had previously known - the health of Black women does not rank with any priority on the national agenda.
In describing the impact of HIV/AIDS on Black women, it can be said definitively that "weapons of mass destruction" have been found. Since the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in this country over two decades ago, the disease burden has been steadily shifting from White males, predominantly in the gay community, to Black females. AIDS is the number 1 cause of death for African American women aged 25-34, women in their prime childbearing years. It is among the top 4 causes of death for African American women aged 20-54 years. And more than half of the new cases of HIV infection in women over 50 are African American. Even though in absolute numbers, more Black men have AIDS than Black women, the absolute numbers for Black women are rising at a staggering rate. Black women are the fastest growing population of new cases, accounting for two-thirds (67%) of new AIDS cases among women.
If I could rewind the tape on the 2004 Vice Presidential Debate and rewrite the transcript in response to Ifil's question, a sweeping agenda of health policy and research would have been articulated to dramatically alter the path of this disease for Black women. One of them would have expressed the need for a method of HIV protection that women can control, such as microbicides, and called for a sizable increase in the National Institutes of Health AIDS research funding directed toward microbicide development. The other one would have stated that universal access to quality health care is key for a woman to identify problems that could make her more susceptible to HIV, noting that one out of every three Black women has no health insurance to access routine care. One would have called for a repeal of abstinence-only-until-marriage sex education legislation, replacing it with stepped up federal support for comprehensive sex education that includes both abstinence and proper condom use for HIV prevention. Finally, the other one would have praised President Clinton for having thrown down a gauntlet for an HIV vaccine by 2007 (noting that it is no longer a realistic deadline) and then promised to throw down a new gauntlet for 2014. Then, he would have asked all Americans to wear a red AIDS ribbon upside down, which is the symbol for HIV vaccine awareness. (A farfetched exchange for the 2004 presidential campaign? Hey, this is MY flight of the imagination.)
Perhaps the world's best hope for stopping the spread of HIV and eliminating the disease outright is a safe, effective and affordable vaccine. Historically, preventive vaccines have effectively controlled serious worldwide epidemics, such as polio and smallpox. There have been dramatic drops in the occurrence of the various diseases after a vaccine was discovered. HIV would be no different.
There currently is no such vaccine and the prospect of one is projected to be at least ten years away. But, there are numerous federal and private vaccines studies underway worldwide. Vaccine development is by nature a complicated process. For instance, the measles vaccine took 30 years to develop from the time that the cause of measles was discovered. The polio vaccine took 47 years to develop. Researchers have been working on an HIV vaccine for approximately 22 years. However, if we hope to live in a world without AIDS, then we must focus more energy and resources on HIV vaccine research.
One of the most important things African American women can do is promote this research by participating in HIV vaccine clinical trials. Currently, we are the most affected by this disease, but our participation in vaccine development research is very limited. What you should know is that there is no way that researchers can test the safety and effectiveness of HIV vaccines on Black women if we do not participate in these trials. This is one important way African American women can be part of the solution.
Use the many resources here to become educated about HIV/AIDS, as well as the quest to develop a preventive HIV vaccine. Test your HIV vaccine I.Q. Review the fact sheets on AIDS and Black Women and HIV Vaccine Research, answers to frequently asked questions, interviews with HIV research experts, and the feature article. Laugh and learn from the true-to-life "Sister's Talking" vignettes. Determine if any of your beliefs about HIV vaccine research are really myths. Check out other resources on HIV/AIDS and vaccine research in our health links and hotlines area. For a comprehensive review of policy issues, visit our medical library and "check out" the Black AIDS Institute's State of AIDS in Black America report. And, wear a red AIDS ribbon upside down and tell others what it means when they try to turn it right side up.
AIDS has been called a Disease of Mass Destruction. The war against the AIDS virus is one that African Americans must not lose. To get information about HIV vaccine trials going on near you, call 866-833-LIFE (5433).
Take great care,
Lorraine Cole, Ph.D.
President & CEO
Black Women's Health Imperative
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Sisters Talking: Vignettes about Our Best Hope to End the HIV/AIDS Crisis
These little stories pack powerful messages about our best hope to end the HIV/AIDS crisis among Black women.
Click here to read the stories.
HIV Vaccine 101 Quiz
Before you make any judgments about HIV/AIDS vaccine research, take this quiz and learn your HIV vaccine I.Q. Quiz answers are provided at the end of the quiz.
Click here to take the quiz.
Ask the Expert:
HIV Vaccine Research
In this interview with George Counts, M.D. and Brenda Larkins, R.N., two experts on the frontlines of the quest to find an HIV vaccine.
Click here to read the transcript and hear audio.
Fact Sheet: HIV/AIDS and African American Women
Get the latest facts about HIV/AIDS and its impact on African American women's health.
Click here to get the facts.
Fact Sheet: HIV Vaccine
Learn about HIV vaccine research.
Click here to get the facts.
HIV Vaccine Research Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the answers to your HIV vaccine research questions.
Click here to read.
Myths about HIV Vaccine and Vaccine Research.
Download this document from the Black Aids Institute.
Click here to download.
AIDS Pandemic: African American Women Can't Sleep on This
If you're avoiding the HIV/AIDS issue because you're too scared to take the test, calm your fears by getting the facts and knowing your risk factors. The truth: African American women can't afford to sleep on this issue. So, please make a plan to get tested and follow through on it today. It's Imperative.
Click here to read the story.
Sisters Remembered
Many of us either know someone living with AIDS or have lost someone special to the disease. Here is a place to share your thoughts or remembrances and inform others about the realities of this devastating disease.
Click here to share your tribute and read the tribute archive.
Share our e-card!
Join the Black Women's Health Imperative in spreading the knowledge, informing Black women about HIV/AIDS and the latest vaccine research.
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HIV Vaccine Awareness Day Poster  Download this poster and show your support for HIV Vaccine Awareness Day.
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Health Links and Hotlines
[HIV/AIDS]
Visit our Health Links and Hotlines area for HIV/AIDS resources.
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