Sheryl Lee Ralph is sounding the alarm about an uptick in HIV cases among Black women. Ralph said the increase in cases of HIV among Black women is concerning.
Ralph attended the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s Academy Awards viewing party in West Hollywood, where she called attention to the growing crisis.
The actress has helped to raise funds and awareness in the fight against HIV/AIDS for more than 40 years.
She worked the room at the viewing party, educating women about pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention (PrEP) which reduces the risk of HIV infection.
“I’m here because, believe it or not, HIV and AIDS is not a dead issue in America right now,” Ralph told Variety.
PrEP is also for Black women, not just for men.
Black women are most at risk because Black men have the highest rates of HIV in America. 50% of Black men in Atlanta are HIV-positive.
“It is spreading. We are still seeing upticks across the south, especially in women of color, and it is something that needs to be paid attention to,” Ralph added. “And also, I think about the fact that as we spread awareness, so many women have no idea that PrEP is also for them. It’s not just for men. So there’s so many reasons to be here at the Elton John event as we continue to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS.”
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says Black women account for about 54% of new HIV cases among women in the U.S.
Ralph notes the underuse of PrEP among Black women. The medication significantly reduces the risk of contracting HIV.
Black women have HIV rates up to 17 times higher than White women.
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is an infectious retrovirus that causes AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
HIV is a sexually transmitted infection that is contracted through exposure to blood, semen, and sometimes vaginal secretions.
Once in the bloodstream, the virus infects and kills white blood cells, such as helper T cells in the body’s immune system.
When the level of helper T cells in the body drop too low the body can’t fight off opportunistic diseases and infections such as Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) and Kaposi’s sarcoma, a type of skin cancer.
