Report Recommends Five-Point Plan To Reduce Spread Of HIV Among U.S. Blacks

The National Minority AIDS Council on Thursday released a report calling for U.S. policymakers to implement a five-point strategy aimed at combating HIV/AIDS among blacks in the country, the San Francisco Chronicle reports (Fulbright, San Francisco Chronicle, 11/16). Blacks account for 13% of the U.S. population but make up more than half of new HIV cases in the country, according to CDC (Dunham, Reuters Health, 11/16). The 27-page report -- titled, "African Americans, Health Disparities and HIV/AIDS: Recommendations for Confronting the Epidemic in Black America" -- was released as part of events leading up to World AIDS Day, which will be held on Dec. 1 (Taylor, Long Island Newsday, 11/16). For the report, NMAC examined the social, economic and personal factors that are the basis for the HIV/AIDS epidemic among U.S. blacks (Reuters Health, 11/16). The report calls on advocates to strengthen black communities by addressing the issue of affordable housing; eliminating marginalization, stigma and discrimination against black men who have sex with men; reducing the impact of incarceration on the spread of HIV among blacks; broadening HIV education programs and promote early detection through voluntary, routine testing; and expanding substance abuse prevention programs, drug treatment and recovery services, and needle-exchange programs (NMAC