On National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, many work to shed stigma of disease

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PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Thursday is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and folks are being encouraged to get tested. 

Kevin Burns with Action Wellness says it's a day during Black History Month focusing on an important health issue in the black community. 

"It's an opportunity really to raise awareness about the realities that African-American men and women are facing around HIV and AIDS," Burns said. 

And, he says, when it comes to health issues like HIV and AIDS, the challenges go beyond the physical.

"I think, with so many things, disproportionate in terms of not having equal access to information as well as to healthcare — Philadelphia has one of the highest poverty rates in the country — and that disproportionately impact people of color," he said. 

Burns says there are a lot of misconceptions about HIV and AIDS, but "the reality today, is that people with HIV disease can achieve wellness."

But in order to achieve wellness, the challenges need to be addressed. 

"We've really uncovered the realities of racism in our society and those are all barriers as well. And so I think the black community is dealing with so much trauma, just in the world that we live in, that often times healthcare concerns are at the bottom of the list," he said. 

But Burns hopes by raising awareness, folks will me motivated to go get tested. 

"There are so many free testing options, so that really shouldn't be a barrier in terms of getting tested and knowing your status," Burns said.