From the Globe Health Desk

The East Bay AIDS Walk 2007 will take place on Saturday, Sept. 8 at Lake Merritt in Oakland. Registration begins at 9 a.m., with the walk starting at 10 a.m.
  To register online as an individual or team or to make a donation, call (510) 873-6514 or visit http://eastbayaidswalk.kintera.org.
    According to the most recent AIDS Epidemiology Report produced by the Alameda County Department of Public Health, of the 6,653 total AIDS cases diagnosed among Alameda County residents from 1980-2004, 44 percent were African American, 87 percent male and 62 percent men who have sex with men.
    Women have accounted for approximately 20 percent or more of annual cases since 1997, and 26 percent in 2004.
    There are currently two States of Emergencies in Alameda County. They are concerned with the rampant rates of HIV infection among African Americans and injection drug users.
    Populations high at risk for HIV/AIDS and either under-reported or not emphasized in data findings include transgender individuals, immigrants and the formerly incarcerated. More young and elderly people are becoming infected with HIV/AIDS.
    Many HIV-positive and AIDS-infected individuals do not have health insurance or the means to pay for laboratory work and needed medications not covered by the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). A majority of people who live with HIV and AIDS either live at or below the federal poverty line and often struggle with meeting their daily needs.
    Organizations who serve HIV- and AIDS-infected individuals and who are working to prevent the spread of HIV continue to experience reduced funding from federal, state, county and city governmental sources, as well as reduced support from foundations, corporations and individuals.
African American HIV/AIDS  Timeline
    1969: An African American teenager from St. Louis dies of AIDS-like symptoms. HIV or a closely related virus was later found in tissue samples that were frozen at the time of his death. This case indicates that HIV was present in the United States before the 1970s.
    1981: Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced first reports of AIDS.
    1982: Missouri Department of Health begins AIDS reporting; first case is reported in St. Louis. CDC reports that 37 cases of AIDS-related pneumonia have occurred among African Americans.
    1983: CDC’s surveillance data shows that AIDS is disproportionately affecting African Americans.
    1984: HIV is identified as the cause of AIDS. CDC reports that 50 percent of all pediatric AIDS cases are among African Americans.
    1985: Ryan White, 13, is diagnosed with AIDS and fights to attend school.
    1986: Surgeon General C. Everett Koop urges parents and schools to begin “frank open discussion” about AIDS.
    1987: CDC reports that the ratio of AIDS case incidence is 12.0 to 1 for blacks and 9.3 to 1 for Hispanics as compared with whites. Even among homosexual and bisexual men and IV drug users, blacks appear to have higher HIV antibody prevalence rates than whites.
    1988: The first World AIDS Day, “A World United Against AIDS,” takes place on Dec. 1.
    1989: CDC begins direct funding for community-based organizations serving African Americans to help close gaps in access to HIV prevention services in under-served communities.
    1990: Ryan White dies.
    1991: Magic Johnson announces that he is living with HIV.
    1992: Arthur Ashe confirms he has AIDS. Newly elected President Clinton makes AIDS a national agenda.
    1993: Arthur Ashe dies. CDC reports that HIV has become the leading cause of death for African American men ages 25-44 and the second leading cause of death for Africa American women in the same age range.
    1994: Food and Drug Administration approves OraSure testing.
    1995: First Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS takes place. Eric Wright, a.k.a. Eazy-E, dies of AIDS.
    1996: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is created.
    1997: CDC reports that for the first time African Americans exceed the proportion of whites with AIDS.
    1998: President Bill Clinton issues a call to action that states as a goal the elimination of racial and ethnic disparities in health in six targeted areas. One of these areas is HIV/AIDS.
   1999: St. Louis and Kansas City declare “A State of Emergency on HIV/AIDS among African Americans.”
    2000: The Governor’s Taskforce on HIV/AIDS in the African American Community releases the HIV/AIDS Emergency Response Plan in the African American Community. BET launches RAP-IT-UP, a grassroots HIV/AIDS awareness campaign designed to address the epidemic in the African American community. The first National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day takes place on Feb. 7.
   2001: Sixty-two young people representing 26 countries present a Youth Position Paper calling on world leaders to address youth issues relating to HIV.
    2002: “Live and Let Live,” the theme of World AIDS Day, focuses on eliminating the disease’s stigma and discrimination, the major obstacles to effective HIV/AIDS prevention and care. MTV launches “Fight for Your Rights: Protect Yourself,” a public education campaign to inform young people about sexual health issues, including HIV/AIDS and other STDs.
   2003: The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services reports that “Blacks are disproportionately represented among HIV and AIDS cases. Although blacks make up only about 11 percent of Missouri’s population, they accounted for 43 percent of HIV cases and 44.4 percent of AIDS cases reported in 2002.” Gene Anthony Ray, “LeRoy” of the 1980 Academy Award-winning movie Fame, dies of AIDS.
   2004: KNOW HIV/AIDS broadcasts an HIV-related public service announcement during Super Bowl XXXVIII.
    2005: The Ryan White CARE Act is up for reauthorization. The First Annual National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day takes place in the U.S. The number of people living with HIV reaches its highest level ever — an estimation 40.3 million people. Nearly half are women.
    2006: California lawmakers approve legislation requiring people who test positive for HIV be reported by name to local authorities. The 25th anniversary of AIDS is observed.
    2007: A “Call to Action” heightens the response to the HIV/AIDS crisis in the African American community lead by the CDC and 80 influential African American leaders.
    The World Health Organization and UNAIDS recommend that “male circumcision should always be considered as part of a comprehensive HIV prevention package” and issue new guidance recommending “provider-initiated” HIV testing in health-care settings.