Page 6 - BCAC International Awareness & Involvement Newsletter

With AIDS awareness month coming in December, we turn our attention to the approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S. diagnosed with HIV and consider how COVID-19 and has impacted the lives of people struggling with HIV and/or AIDS. In 2020, Blacks represented 12% of the U.S. population but accounted for 42% of new HIV diagnoses, and the pandemic has resulted in disruption of prevention efforts, testing, access to treatment, and the management of long-term HIV and mental health concerns (Amo, Diaz, & Polo, 2022). According to Camara Jones (former president of the American Public Health Association), these factors are intensified for Black and Brown communities who are still inadequately served by public and private healthcare organizations. (nationalacademies.org, 2020).
FOR LINKS TO MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GETTING HELP, SEE HTTPS://WWW.NAMI.ORG/YOUR- JOURNEY/IDENTITY-AND-CULTURAL-DIMENSIONS/BLACK-AFRICAN-AMERICAN.
REFERENCES:
AMO, J.D.; DIAZ, A.; & POLO, R. (2022). THE IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE 2019 ON PEOPLE WITH HIV. HTTPS://WWW.CENSUS.GOV/LIBRARY/STORIES/2021/07/HOW-PANDEMIC-AFFECTED-BLACK-AND- WHITE-HOUSEHOLDS.HTML HTTPS://WWW.HIV.GOV/HIV-BASICS/OVERVIEW/DATA-AND-TRENDS/STATISTICS HTTPS://WWW.MINORITYHEALTH.HHS.GOV/ HTTPS://WWW.NAMI.ORG/YOUR-JOURNEY/IDENTITY-AND-CULTURAL-DIMENSIONS/BLACK- AFRICAN-AMERICAN HTTPS://WWW.NATIONALACADEMIES.ORG/NEWS/2020/07/COVID-19-AND-BLACK-COMMUNITIES HTTPS://WWW.NCBI.NLM.NIH.GOV/PMC/ARTICLES/PMC7762908
DR. DELVENA R. THOMAS, DO, MPH
BOARD CERTIFIED PSYCHIATRIST LIEUTENANT COLONEL, US ARMY RESERVE OWNER OF DRT BEHAVIORAL SERVICES, PLLC 2699 STIRLING ROAD, STE C407
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 3312 305-981-1700
IA&I - DECEMBER 2022
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