Chaotic & Underfunded: CDC's HIV "Heightened National Response" For African Americans

Launched with much fanfare in March 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) A Heightened National Response to the HIV/AIDS Crisis Among African-Americans called for "expanding the reach of prevention services; increasing opportunities for diagnosing and treating HIV; developing new, effective prevention interventions, and; mobilizing broader community action."

One year later, the Heightened National Response (HNR) effort has been marked by shifting leadership, lack of communication with local leaders and community organizations, and no new funding for any initiatives besides those restricted to HIV testing. It is now widely believed that Madeline Sutton, MD, MPH, CDC Acting Director of Partnerships in the Department of HIV/AIDS Prevention, the latest in a series of individuals responsible for HNR, will once again restructure the initiative in an attempt to address its significant shortfalls.

In response to the failure of the HNR, members of the CHAMP Network are calling for a comprehensive, results-oriented and measurable national AIDS strategy, rather than piecemeal, underfunded initiatives that have not resulted in concrete change.

"The CDC released this report last March, and the only change we've seen is more HIV for African Americans, not less," says Kenyon Farrow, Director of Communications at Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP). "This seems like yet another grand vision outlined in a glossy document that is, in fact, ill-equipped to make any real dent in new infections. We need real leadership, real funding and a comprehensive strategy at the federal level if we're going to do more than give lip service to HIV prevention in our country."

Advocates note that the HNR anniversary coincided with CDC's quiet release of new data revealing that Black gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM) ages 13-24 had a nearly 80% increase in new HIV infections from 2001-2005. Another new study documents that fully half of all African American girls have had a sexually transmitted infection (STI), which can increase the likelihood of HIV infection. HIV/AIDS is the number one cause of death for African-American women ages 25-34.

One year ago, CDC gathered leaders from black AIDS organizations around the country to announce the HNR. Leaders were asked to fill out "pledge cards" to make specific commitments their organizations would do to promote HIV prevention in the black community. Now, leaders from around the country - including those in cities where CDC promoted HIV testing as a part of HNR - say that these pledges were never followed up on or organized. In fact, many of the existing HIV prevention programs serving Black Americans through federal funds are in danger of losing funding under the Bush Administration's 2009 budget proposal.

"The US requires countries applying for our global AIDS funding to have a national AIDS strategy, yet we don't even have one of our own. Instead, we've got a chaotic and underfunded CDC dog-and-pony show passing out pledge cards that then get tossed between transient program heads," says Waheedah Shabazz-El of CHAMP. "Perhaps the CDC should be up front about its own challenges to help Congress and the President recognize the need for a comprehensive national AIDS strategy, rather than rallying hardworking Black community leaders around grandiose plans almost guaranteed to fall short due to lack of resources and coordination."

CHAMP remains committed to fighting for CDC accountability to communities most impacted by HIV.

We will continue to follow "Heightened National Response" and keep you informed as we learn new details.

Stay tuned,
CHAMP Staff - Cameron, James, Josh, Julie, Kenyon, Lei, Magali, and Waheedah