Black America's Exploding Health Crisis

African-Americans Make Up 49 Percent Of New HIV Cases

(CBS)  A report tonight has some dramatic numbers about HIV and AIDS. It says that a young person with the disease, properly treated, could now live to old age. In the 1990s, a 20-year-old patient could expect to live to be 56. But by 2005, that climbed to nearly 70. An increase of more than 13 years. Heartening news - until you realize there are more than one million Americans living with HIV/AIDS, more than ever before. And a disproportionate number are African Americans. CBS News correspondent Randall Pinkston explains.

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"So, your husband knew that he had HIV?" Pinkston asked.

"Yes," Ida Byther-Smith said.

"And never told you?" Pinkston asked.

"No, never," she replied.

Byther-Smith is one of America's new faces of AIDS, an African-American woman who contracted the disease from someone she trusted.

"I always believed in abstinence until you get married. But what did that get me? It got me AIDS!" she said.

With a shoe-string budget, Byther-Smith now runs an AIDS community outreach program on Chicago's south side, teaching clients to avoid the mistakes she made. For instance, for years she refused to even admit she had the disease.

"I even had people tell me, 'oh you must have done something really bad for God to punish you like that,'" she said.

Ignorance and fear partly explain an exploding health crisis in America's black community.

Although just 13 percent of the population, the Center for Disease Control says that African Americans accounted for 49 percent of new HIV cases in 2006, the most recent year for which they have statistics.

The epidemic is also exploding among teenagers and young adults. Of new HIV cases between ages 13 and 19, 69 percent are black. Between the ages of 20 and 24, 56 percent are black.

"No matter how you look at it, through the lens of gender, sexual orientation or class, or level of education or the region of the country where you live, black folks bear the brunt of the AIDS epidemic in this country," said Phill Wilson, a Los Angeles-based AIDS activist.

Wilson's also a 27-year survivor. He says early activists sent the wrong message to the black community.

"The mischaracterization of the epidemic ... a white gay man's disease made many black folks think they didn't have to pay attention to the disease," Wilson said.

The development of new miracle drugs dramatically increased survival rates. But the drugs are expensive - and many black Americans have neither private insurance nor the funds.

"A lot of people are dying because they're on a waiting list," Byther-Smith said. "And they can't get medicine."

AIDS activists complain they can't get much attention either from the presidential candidates. When senators John McCain and Barack Obama do mention the disease, their concern is often directed toward AIDS in Africa - not AIDS in America.

[erasmus81]

In wonderful Canada, you WAIT IN LINE for life saving operations.

Posted by edintex

Well where I live in Canada, I know of no one that has had to wait very long for surgery. And if it is life and death, you are having surgery, NOW.

Medical insurance is around $54, for a single person, $90 for married couple, and $100+ for family. That''s not bad. And EVERYBODY has healthcare.

[nothappyatall]

In wonderful Canada, you WAIT IN LINE for life saving operations.

Posted by edintex

Even if that''s so, the problem is NOT the system it''s TOO DAM MANY PEOPLE for the limited resources!

[nothappyatall]

YOU go to Canada; I will take my chances here in the U.S.

Posted by edintex

You sure WILL with the Bush cartel in power and possibly Mcsame starting WW3 with a "surprise" attack on Iran on some false pretext before he leaves office, then health care will be relegated to the far back burner of important things todeal with, the first being getting food and keeping your house and job.

[edintex]

Yeah, the American system sounds SOOOO much better!
Posted by newster1 at 08:29 PM : Jul 25, 2008

In wonderful Canada, you WAIT IN LINE for life saving operations. It does not matter what kind of insurance you have or how much money you have. At least in the US, you have a chance in a real emergency, with or without insurance. YOU go to Canada; I will take my chances here in the U.S.

[nothappyatall]

I have a friend who lives in Canada. The health care stories he tells me about their system are horrendous. Those of you who think their system is so wonderful should move there.

Posted by JackP32

You mean sorta like here where unless you have $600 a month for health insurance you basically are on your own unless you go to the ER? like if you don''t buy dental insurance or can''t afford a $1,200 crown you get the tooth pulled and go around with half your teeth missing?
You mean like how even if you HAVE Insurance there''s loads of high deductables, EXCLUSIONS and they can cut you off and not renew your policy, leaving you unable to buy elsewhere for your pre-existing condition?
Yeah, the American system sounds SOOOO much better!

[nothappyatall]

Its called Use a Condom.

Dont trust anybody and be safe.

Posted by XmanBorg

That''s having s3x with a piece of RUBBER then, what good is THAT?? may as well use a vibrator or blow-up doll.

[libsluv2spit]

the irony of nationlizing our US heathcare is that .the very people who wants the federal goverment to run this are the very same people who are suspicious of the federal governement..

[my2centss]

The only thing that aids drugs have done is extend the time that the virus can be spread to more people.

[hungryman9]

I know for a fact that many people from Canada cross the border to get health care in the US. They pay the full price, but they do get care. All this talk about Canada and Europe having universal coverage that think it is so good, should move there. You will realize how good it is here once you get there and pay all the tax they pay.

[promaclaura]

Posted by ProMacLaura at 11:32 AM : Jul 25, 2008

Honestly, I really do wish there were more people like you. If more people gave to charities, we wouldn''''t need universal health care. Cheers. Thanks for the debate, was fun :)
Posted by ccdsswrkr08 at 11:38 AM : Jul 25, 2008

Just wanted to follow up. I can''t claim that there should be more people like me, because I''m selfish to some extent. The people that deserve all the credit are the individuals who start these non-profit agencies. The one I''m involved with was started by a cancer survivor who was given 6 months to live, he beat those odds many years ago. Right now he gives everything he has to this organization and lives in poverty to do so. It''s ironic that I talk about him under a story about Aids/HIV, he is a gay man and does not have this virus but many would object to his lifestyle. So I hear what your saying about not grouping the poor who need help with those who voluntarily hurt themselves. There is always another side and thanks for debating on their behalf.