Resolve, Respect, and Restore

(Black PR Wire) On February 7th, we commemorate National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This year, we have adopted a unique theme: "Resolve, Respect, and Restore." This theme highlights the vital contributions of Black leaders worldwide toward implementing the vision and strategies necessary to eliminate new HIV diagnoses and support people with HIV seeking care and treatment within Black communities. Given the recent suspension of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), US-based leaders must stand in solidarity with leaders across the entire African diaspora as we strive to achieve freedom from new HIV diagnoses, as well as to eliminate pervasive HIV-related health disparities among all Black people with HIV (PWH) in our communities. 

Resolve: As Black leaders, we are steadfast in our commitment to ending new HIV diagnoses in our community while simultaneously advancing strategies that enhance overall health outcomes for Black people. Achieving this goal requires mobilizing the exceptional expertise of Black health advocates, scholars, and community leaders worldwide to guide and inform our efforts. Through collective action, innovation, and a deep-rooted dedication to health equity, we will drive meaningful change and ensure that Black communities have the resources, access, and support needed to thrive.

Respect: We extend our gratitude to the numerous allies worldwide who share our vision of a future in which Black communities are no longer disproportionately affected by HIV. Our allies must recognize that our communities do not seek external saviors to lead us; instead, we desire true allies who understand their role is to support Black leadership as we advocate for ourselves. This vision must be realized through the efforts of countless Black advocates and ambassadors who serve as health care providers, researchers, gatekeepers, community leaders, public health officials, influencers, and health modelers — who are all essential in charting a path forward.

Restore: We must restore the core principles of HIV advocacy within Black communities, underscoring the fundamental right of those of us with HIV to thrive, and when our life journey ends, we can transition with dignity and respect. Additionally, it is crucial to advocate for equitable access to all prevention methods, ensuring that no barriers hinder those of us seeking to prevent HIV transmission. Achieving this vision requires us to reject colonization-based approaches and instead adopt strategies that prioritize Black diasporic cultural values and norms.

The undersigned organizations, coalitions, and movements led by Black individuals urge you to take action today.

• Global Action: 
  • Show solidarity with our brothers and sisters across the Diaspora as PEPFAR funding and programs are frozen.  Share the following resource on the immediate impact of these actions: https://www.amfar.org/pepfar-stoppage
• Domestic Action: 
  • Call your House and Senate Representative to denounce the Executive orders and actions of the Trump Administration that threaten the lives of our community.
• Community Action: 
  • Utilize the toolkit for social media post to honor Black leaders in the HIV movement.

#HonorBlackHealth, #HIVEnds #BlackHealthLeadersUnite #Thankyouforyourservice