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Message from the Health and Wellness Committee
Message from
the Health and Wellness Committee Mu Lambda Health and Wellness Committee (MLHWC)
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Mu Lambda Brothers,
Welcome to December 2021! December is World Aids Day (Dec. 1st), International Day of
Persons w/Disabilities (Dec. 3
rd), and National Influenza Vaccination Week (Dec. 6-12) Awareness Month. Below are some articles of interest addressing these topics. Please click on the links or cut and paste into your browser to read the entire articles.
HIV/AIDS and African Americans
December 1st
is World AIDS Day, reminding us that HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is still a worldwide challenge. This year’s theme is “Equitable Access, Everyone’s Voice.”
According to HIV.gov, 2021 marks 40years “since the first five cases of what later became known as
AIDS were officially reported.” In the US, more than 700,000 people have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the epidemic.
Significant strides have been made since the 1980s in terms of prevention and treatment, and new discoveries in research continue to aid in reducing new HIV transmission rates so that patients can live longer and healthier lives. HIV.gov notes, “globally, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has saved more than 20 million lives.”
Despite the progress, communities of color continue to be disproportionately affected with higher rates of HIV, and many socio-economic factors can increase risk for transmission. In 2018, Black/African American people accounted for 13% of the US population but 42% of new HIV diagnoses in the United States and dependent areas.
“Cultural biases like stigma, discrimination, and homophobia place many African Americans at higher risk for HIV. These barriers prevent many from seeking routine HIV testing or receiving HIV preventative care and treatments due to fear of judgment from family and peers.” (HIV.gov)
Although Black/African Americans represent almost 13 percent of the U.S. population, they account for 42.1 percent of HIV infection cases in 2019.
In 2019, African Americans were 8.1 times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV infection, as compared to the white population. African American males have 8.4 times the AIDS rate as compared to white males. African American females have 15 times the AIDS rate as compared to white females. African American men are 6.4 times as likely to die from HIV infection as non-Hispanic white men. African American women are 14.5 times as likely to die from HIV infection as white women.
HIV Infection Cases and Rates (Adults)
Estimated number of diagnosed cases and rates (per 100,000) of HIV infection, 2019
# Cases Rate African American/ White Ratio
African American males 11,489 71.7 8.1
White males 7,498 8.9
African American females 3,810 21.3 12.5
White females 1,508 1.7
White (total, all ages) 9,013 4.6
Source: CDC 2021. HIV Surveillance Report: Diagnoses of HIV Infection in the United States and Dependent Areas, 2019, v.32. Tables 1a and 3a. https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/pdf/library/reports/surveillance/cdc-hiv-surveillance-report-2018-updated-vol32.pdf [PDF | 19.7MB]
For more information on HIV/AIDS and African Americans and other resources – please click the links below - https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=4&lvlid=21
Additional Resources -
https://hivinfo.nih.gov/home-page https://www.vahealthoptions.org/nexus/
Highlighting African-Americans With Disabilities In Honor Of Black History Month
As we celebrate Black History Month, which takes place every February, RespectAbility recognizes the contributions made and the important presence of African-Americans to the United States. It is important to note this includes more than 5.6 million African-Americans living with a disability in the U.S., 3.4 million of which are working-age African-Americans with disabilities. Therefore, we would like to reflect on the realities and challenges that continue to shape the lives of African-Americans with disabilities.
Only 28.7 percent of working-age African-Americans with disabilities are employed in the U.S. compared to 72 percent of working-age African-Americans without disabilities. This is in line with the rest of the country, with fully one-in-five Americans having a disability and just 30 percent of those who are working-age being employed, despite polls showing that most of them want to work. This leads to approximately 40 percent of African-Americans with disabilities living in poverty compared to 22 percent of African-Americans without disabilities.
Deafblind lawyer Haben Girma advocates for inclusion in both education and Hollywood.
For many of the 1,199,743 black students (K-12) with disabilities in America today, the deck is stacked against them. Frequently “invisible disabilities” such as ADHD are not diagnosed and students do not get the supports they need to achieve. Frustrated, they can act out and become suspended. African-American students with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by suspension in schools, with more than one in four boys of color with disabilities — and nearly one in five girls of color with disabilities — receiving an out-of-school suspension.
Studies show that when students miss too many days, either for being truant or just being absent, they get so far behind in class that it can lead to them dropping out of school. As documented in Disability & Criminal Justice Reform: Keys to Success, this can lead to the school-to-prison pipeline. Today there are more than 750,000 people with disabilities behind bars in America. Many of them do not have high school diplomas, are functionally illiterate and are people of color.
Harriet Tubman did not let her epileptic seizures stop her from risking her life to free slaves through the underground railroad.
Overall, only 65 percent of students with disabilities graduate high school compared to 84 percent of students without disabilities. However, only 57 percent of black students with disabilities graduate high school compared to 74.6 percent of black students without disabilities.
For more information on African Americans with Disabilities – please click the link below.
https://diverseabilitymagazine.com/2019/02/african-americans-disabilities-black-history/
Campaign Stresses Importance of Flu Vaccinations Among African Americans in D.C.
Washington, D.C. -- African Americans are the largest number of populations, nationwide, who are unvaccinated against the flu. The Assembly of Petworth, a District collaborative that uses grassroots strategies to address critical health issues impacting African Americans, Hispanics, and other ethnic groups suffering health disparities, has joined with the D.C. Department of Health, United Planning Organization, and the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation to host a press conference, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon on Friday, Dec. 2 to mark National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW), December 4-10.
The press conference and a mini-free flu vaccination clinic, that runs from 12 noon to 3 p.m., will occur at the United Planning Organization "Petey" Greene Community Service Center, 2907 Martin Luther King Ave. in Southeast. A diverse group of experts, including Dr. Mohammad Akhter, director, D.C. Department of Health, Dr. Yabo Beysolow, medical officer, CDC, and Diane Freeman, aging services specialist, Department of Health and Human Services, will highlight the importance of continuing the flu vaccination through the holiday season and beyond. For more information on Flu Vaccinations Among African American – please click the link below.
https://www.ncbcp.org/news/campaign_stresses_importance_of_flu_vaccinations_among_africa n_americans_in_dc/
For Brothers looking to participate in the Mu Lambda’s Health and Wellness Committee (MLHWC) activities, please contact Bro. Derrick Butts dabutts@mac.com - who is filling in until one or more brothers will step-up/volunteer.
Thank you for your participation and support of the MLHWC!
Bro. Derrick Butts
