Black AIDS Institute and Merck Create HIV/AIDS Treatment Network
The Black AIDS Institute recently launched the Black Treatment Advocates Network (BTAN) with pharmaceutical company Merck and local AIDS service organizations. The network will train and mobilize advocates for treatment and care of blacks with HIV/AIDS.
“Improving HIV literacy and treatment advocacy and training more blacks as treatment educators are important to combating AIDS in black communities,” said Phill Wilson, CEO and president of the Black AIDS Institute in a statement.
The black community is the largest population affected by HIV/AIDS, representing about half of those with HIV/AIDS in contrast to the 12 percent of blacks that make up the nation’s total population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Friday, August 13th, marked the end of a week long BTAN science and advocacy training seminar in Philadelphia, according to blackaids.org. The seminar was part of an initiative to begin the network in three “pilot” cities with limited resources and high prevalence: Philadelphia, Houston and Jackson, Mississippi.
Training participants in each city will organize efforts that address a treatment need specific to their communities, according to Mondella Jones, communications director of the Institute.
“[Our programs team] is excited about the process because it makes sure that the initiatives are indigenous and driven by the people who know the city best,” she said.
To become involved with BTAN, email programs@blackaids.org or call 213-353-3610. – Brittany Johnson
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