This is a cogent, important column recapitulating the well known disparities and solid data showing the ongoing disproportionality of HIV/AIDs among Blacks. As you correctly note, " Racial disparities/structural racism have a lot to do with the numbers being as high as they are."
I think as educated professionals, more civically engaged than most, it is time for you and all MDs to stop merely commenting on structural racism and do something about it! An excellent, dramatic first step would be to mobilize our profession to have our elected officials eliminate our racist second class health care system for the poor -Medicaid. Newly formulated legislation would allow it to be rolled into Medicare including all the best and most expansive range of services demonstrated in the various states while raising reembursements to Medicare levels. While this would not meet the primary prevention of HIV/AIDs needs of poor and minorities, it would greatly improve "secondary and tertiary prevention."
There are a remarkable number of people who come into the emergency room with full blown AIDS who cannot organize themselves enough to take one pill a day, even when it is provided free of charge.
This is a cogent, important column recapitulating the well known disparities and solid data showing the ongoing disproportionality of HIV/AIDs among Blacks. As you correctly note, " Racial disparities/structural racism have a lot to do with the numbers being as high as they are."
I think as educated professionals, more civically engaged than most, it is time for you and all MDs to stop merely commenting on structural racism and do something about it! An excellent, dramatic first step would be to mobilize our profession to have our elected officials eliminate our racist second class health care system for the poor -Medicaid. Newly formulated legislation would allow it to be rolled into Medicare including all the best and most expansive range of services demonstrated in the various states while raising reembursements to Medicare levels. While this would not meet the primary prevention of HIV/AIDs needs of poor and minorities, it would greatly improve "secondary and tertiary prevention."
There are a remarkable number of people who come into the emergency room with full blown AIDS who cannot organize themselves enough to take one pill a day, even when it is provided free of charge.