Atlanta ranks 3rd nationally for new HIV diagnoses

New figures show that HIV/AIDS is an epidemic in our community. Regardless of age from 17 to 70, the number of new infections increases every year. At this point, I’m not sure what we should say or do. There are television commercials advertising PreP for prevention and treatment medications that prevent the spread of the disease. None of this seems to worry the general public, as the number of new infections continues to rise each year. As always with most health issues, the African American community is negatively impacted by a significant number of new cases. Dr. Maisha Standifer from the Satcher Health Leadership Institute joins us to discuss this challenge.

I asked Sandifer to tell us about the Satcher Health Leadership Institute whose mission is to bring health equity to our country. She talks about advancing health equity by educating the next generation of healthcare professionals, engaging in the community, and advocating with government agencies and leaders.

Even though HIV treatment has advanced by leaps and bounds, patients still live with a chronic illness. I asked Sandifer to share what it means to live with HIV today. I asked if the fight to prevent the spread of HIV was over, because it seems people are refusing to make changes to their sex lives to prevent the spread. She speaks of the need to “culturally competent health care. Sandifer talks about the heavy stigma surrounding sexually transmitted diseases and sexual health.

I asked Sandifer about our community’s challenges regarding knowledge of HIV prevention and preventative medications. PrEP helps reduce the spread of HIV. Once you’ve been diagnosed with HIV, new medications prevent the disease from spreading. With these tools, you would think our numbers would go down. Sandifer talks about mental health and the life challenges that often lead humans to participate in risky sexual behaviors.

For more information about the Satcher Health Leadership Institute

For more information on HIV prevention

For more information on Living with HIV