In comments released today, the coalition outlined a series of policy recommendations for the Obama Administration to include in its National HIV/AIDS Strategy, which the president has promised to develop within the first year of his presidency. The administration expects to implement the strategy in 2010.

"We are pleased that the Obama Administration is committed to developing a National HIV/AIDS Strategy that will provide a results-oriented road map and strengthen national commitment to real and sustained success in the battle against HIV/AIDS," the coalition's comments stated. "We believe, however, that this strategy will not be complete without the inclusion of a plan to address the serious epidemic among the population of African-American women, where HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death for those in the age group of 25-34."

The needs of African-Americans have not received enough attention, according to the coalition, which was organized by the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS (NBLCA) and included a variety of Black women leaders, such as C. Virginia Fields, President and CEO of NBLCA, M. Delois Strum, National President of The National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Sonya Lockett, Vice President Public Affairs for BET Networks, Barbara Joseph, co-chair of the National Black Women HIV/AIDS Network, Barbara A. McKinzie, International President of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and Julianne Malveaux, president of Bennett College for Women.

"African-American women must be given an exclusive position in the National AIDS Strategy," the comments filed with the Obama Administration stated. "There are far too many African-American women who are infected or affected by HIV but this population is rarely focused on as a group."

African-Americans as a whole "remain notably absent from public policy and resource-allocation decisions affecting communities of African descent nationwide," Fields stated. "With more than 56,000 new HIV infections occurring in the United States each year, NBLCA remains concerned that African Americans continue to be the hardest hit and the most disproportionately impacted by HIV and AIDS of all racial and ethnic groups. While Blacks represent only 12 percent of the population, they continue to account for a higher proportion of cases at all stages of HIV/AIDS - from infection to death. Despite the alarming statistics, African Americans continue to face enormous challenges regarding access to HIV/AIDS care, treatment and services."

The leaders issued their policy recommendations after a "A National Conversation on Black Women and HIV/AIDS" last month in Washington, D.C. The recommendations have three main goals: To reduce HIV incidence, increase access to care and optimize health outcomes and reduce HIV-related health disparities.

The elements of the recommendations include:

Create a surveillance system that truly captures and reflects the HIV/AIDS epidemic among African-American women so the information becomes documentation for the comprehensive services that are needed. The information should go beyond disease identity and combine other social determinants as factors to be considered to reduce HIV incidence among African-American women.

Combine efforts in addressing domestic violence, substance abuse and mental health for African-American women who don't generally report or seek counseling for these issues.

Include a clear marketing plan that is aimed solely at African American women who must see themselves in this epidemic - geographically, age appropriately and economically.

Resources must follow the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The resources must reach African-American women infected and affected. Testing must be provided in a variety of places where women are gathered, not just in medical settings.

Provide mobile access to quality healthcare where it is not available in certain regions of the country.

Develop and provide support for public campaigns that encourage participation in programs among African-American women and service delivery in safe non-threatening environments.

Develop programs with families, friends, and community to address stigma and support for those infected with HIV/AIDS and for issues of abuse, addiction and gender identity.

Encourage cross-fertilization of federal offices addressing the same populations; plan and strategize for positive outcomes with more creative programs. These programs should seek true input from African-American women.

St. Louis American