Press Release
February 7, 2025
New York State Department of Health Recognizes National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Awareness Day Honors Resilience of Black New Yorkers Impacted by HIV
State Department of Health Remains Committed to Ending the Epidemic and Addressing Systems of Health Inequity
ALBANY, N.Y. (February 7, 2025) – The New York State Department of Health recognizes National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, honoring the resiliency of Black and Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) who are affected by HIV/AIDS and acknowledging the historically disproportional impact of HIV on these communities. While strides have been made to reduce HIV in Black communities, more must be done to reduce new infections, improve care and end health disparities.
"Today, as we honor the strength and courage of New Yorkers living with HIV, more must be done to address health inequities and improve access to high-quality health care and HIV prevention and treatment programs," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "The intersection of unfavorable social determinants of health and health outcomes exacerbate the impact of HIV/AIDS among Black individuals. A syndemic approach and innovative models of care are essential to ensuring Black and Indigenous people of color achieve equitable HIV health outcomes."
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was first observed in 1999 to recognize how racism and harmful biases contribute to health disparities, specifically when it comes to HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention. According to the Department's 2023 HIV/AIDS Annual Surveillance Report, the rates of new HIV diagnoses among non-Hispanic Black individuals were 7.7 times higher than the rate for non-Hispanic White individuals.
New York State continues to move toward its Ending the Epidemic goals through the State Department of Health's AIDS Institute's statewide programming and activities related to HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections.
New York State leads the nation in the number of individuals prescribed HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medications among those estimated to benefit from PrEP. Research has demonstrated that PrEP remains extremely effective at eliminating the possibility of transmitting HIV from one person to another, however, rates of PrEP uptake vary across populations in the state. In Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, young men who have sex with men, cisgender and transgender women, and individuals under the age of 40 access PrEP at far lower rates than their White counterparts, even as new diagnoses of HIV increase in these same groups.
The Department's AIDS Institute continues to work with community partners and providers to identify strategies to ensure equitable access to PrEP across the entire State. Medicaid and most insurance plans cover all costs for oral PrEP, which include appointment fees, lab tests and medication. Additionally, the Department offers a PrEP Assistance Program (PrEP-AP), which includes information about payment options, and drug manufacturers offer assistance as well.
To learn more about the AIDS Institute and HIV, visit health.ny.gov.
Contact:
New York State Department of Health - NY.gov
press@health.ny.gov
Source: New York State Department of Health - NY.gov
https://www.health.ny.gov/press/releases/2025/2025-02-07_black_hiv_aids_awareness_day.htm
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