Project Kengikat

Does Race Play a Role?

// March 26th, 2010 // Uncategorized

Next month will mark two years that I have been HIV positive and the road has not been an easy one. In fact it was a very difficult road and to think that I am not on HIV meds is a pretty sad statement. What would things have been like if I was in fact on meds. Judging by what all the hardships I had with doctors, clinics, ADAP and even housing options it’s not hard to imagine that I would either be much sicker or even dead….stigma and education or me not being fully engaged would not be the reasons, but access to care would be.

After nearly two years of less the lousy medical care and support services, I know have an awesome Dr with an awesome case manager backed by a outstanding team of people who truly care about me as a person and as a patient. For first time since being diagnosed (April 3, 2008) I am no longer in the dark about my care, I have a doctor and medical team I fully trust without any questions, I no longer feel that my HIV will lead to AIDS and eventually lead to my death.

When I read reports or hear of them from all sorts of places that give statistics of how HIV and AIDS affects Blacks I have to question if these statistics are this way because of access to care and care services. I have ask how many Blacks have faced the same if not more problems, discrimination and down right ignorance, education and huge amount of stigma that comes the people who are supposed to be caring for them. How many of Black people fall out of care because of the road blocks put in place by a failing system.

Moreover how many of these same reports were flawed? How many steps have been taken to really address the issues that face Blacks and how HIV and AIDS affect them? How many changes have been made in treatment and access to it? How many changes have been made in prevention as well as education as it pertains to Blacks? Can we truly believe that all is being done to change how HIV and AIDS is affecting Blacks? Based on what I went through, the answer is very little and in many cases NOTHING is being done and NO we can not believe that all is being done to turn this around. Sounds very harsh I know, but I am just looking at things based on how things have gone for me. I know I am not the only one, because I know other people who feel the same way.

If we are really going to address the way HIV and AIDS affects Blacks, then we must truly look at how services like education, prevention and access to care and care support also affect Blacks. We must honestly take a closer and hard look at all studies, focus groups, statistics, reports and even care providers and how they too play key roles in how HIV and AIDS affect Blacks.

I think if we do this we will discover that we think is true as to why HIV and AIDS affects Blacks we will see that there is a lot more causing the results and while many will be alarmed at what is found, I will not be and I know many Blacks will also not be alarmed.

Does race play a role in how Blacks are affected by HIV and AIDS?

Yes is does.