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African American Women
Globally, women of color are the new face of the HIV epidemic. African- American women are 19 times more likely get infected by HIV than white women in the U.S.(1) Two out of three American women newly diagnosed with AIDS are African American.(2)
African- American women play a vital role in advocating for safe and affordable microbicides.
If we want a safe and effective microbicide, we have to demand sufficient government funding to develop them without delay. Advocates all over the world are raising their voices in the growing public demand for microbicides.
African- American women can help shape microbicide research and work toward access to safe and effective microbicides as soon as possible. As women of color, African-American women should have the opportunity to have a say in whether and how microbicides are developed and who gets them once they are on the market.
Learn more and tell others...
"Microbicides: promising HIV prevention option for African American women"
This factsheet was produced in collaboration with several prominent national groups including African-American Women Evolving, the Black AIDS Institute, the Black Women’s Health Imperative, NASTAD’s African-American Advisory Committee, SisterLove, and SisterSong. In addition to providing a brief introduction to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the African American community, the role of microbicides in bolstering prevention options, and the role thatAfrican American women could play in making microbicides a reality, it also presents several key messages that need to be conveyed clearly about condoms, men, safety, and access.
The Basics of Microbicides - a colorful brochure to share with others
This brochure was designed to inform African American women about the basics of microbicides and engage them in advocacy efforts. We invite you to distribute the brochure widely!
Global Campaign outreach efforts
The Global Campaign partners with organizations that work with African- American women to build awareness about microbicides. This includes:
- Contributing articles to newsletters and magazines
- Supporting microbicide education programs like the Couch and Coffee chats organized by SisterLove
- Presenting workshops on microbicides at large conventions- -like the 2007 Student National Medical Association Conference, 2007 SisterSong Conference, and 2007 It’s All About M.E.E conference sponsored by the National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCWB), National Council of Negro Women and the Black AIDS Institute!
- An advisory council comprised of leading African American advocates
Do you have suggestions or want to get involved?
Share ideas on how we can better involve African-American women in the microbicide field, and contact us if you would like to get involved! Email us at: info@global-campaign.org
References:
1. CDC. Diagnoses of HIV/AIDS—32 states, 2000–2003. MMWR 2004;53:1106–1110.
2. CDC, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, Vol.16, 2005.
