Why is that?
As my campaign begins to take on a life of it’s own, I’ve been privileged to be able to research many issues, some that I might not have otherwise been drawn to. We all know the front page issues like the economy, the housing crisis and health care. But what many of us fail to realize, is that there are some real serious issues in our communties that have been largely ignored. I want to focus on one issue in particular; HIV/AIDS.
In my research, I have found some startling statistics. Here’s just a few about our own city:
1. St. Louis city has the fifth highest HIV infection rate per capita in the country.
2. St. Louis city has the highest number of STD infections per capita in the country.
3. 1/5 of all new HIV infections are caused by intravenous drug use.
4. Black Americans represent 60 percent of all AIDS cases.
5. 30 percent of our prison population is infected with the HIV virus.
6. Black women represent 47 percent of all new HIV infections.
7. The number one cause of death for black men between the ages of 15-35 is AIDS.
When I read these stats, I was shocked. You see, most of us go through life as if we’re driving on the highway, and every issue is nothing more than a billboard that we casually glance at as we drift on by. But what I began to realize about these stats is that we have an epidemic on our hands, right here in our own backyard, and no one is doing anything about it.
I think I know why.
I just turned 40 about a month ago, and I remember back in the early 80’s when AIDS arrived on the scene. Back then it was seen as a “gay, white man’s disease”. People talked about how it was going to be the black plague of the 80’s. The government got involved and spent all kinds of money on advertising campaigns and people marched to generate awareness. There was a real concern within our country that this was an epidemic.
But during the 90’s, something happened…
The death rate and the number of infections among gay white males began to drop, but this was also about the time that intravenous drug use began to rise, and the number of infections among the black community began to rise. It hasn’t stopped yet. My point is this; when it was considered a “gay, white disease”, it was a problem that had to be dealt with. But now that it’s considered a “black disease”, it’s swept under the rug.
Why is that?
May 8, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Why is that?
Great question.
I’m wondering why the US spends so much on AIDS in Africa when we can’t take care of our own.
It’s like taking away food from your children to feed your neighbor.
Other than that, I wonder how much a person has a right to rely on the government. Those medications cost.
And whether it’s a cancer patient or an AIDS patient, I have to question who exactly it is that has a right to be a drain on the State to the tune of $200k or more a year.
Not that I want people to die, mind you; it’s just that the same resources could go a lot further elsewhere. So when does morality step in to say that others might deserve our help just as much, if not more?
There is only so sick you can be before you die. And just because we might have some technology that can hold that off for a short time doesn’t imply that it would be moral or right to use it in every case.
May 9, 2008 at 8:33 pm
What is your solutions?
May 12, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Damien, thanks for checking out the blog. In response to your question, several things must be done. We must make sure that the programs remain funded. Second, we must have outreach programs that encourage the black community to get tested. Third, we must enact a needle exchange program. Now I know that is a controversial issue, but in the 40 major cities that have enacted their own program, IV drug use has actually gone down and studies prove that these programs reduce the number of HIV infections.