'Racism Is A Public Health Threat' Says Biden Administration In New AIDS Strategy

The Biden administration has labeled racism a “public health threat” that must be addressed as part of its national HIV/AIDS strategy.

The White House released its strategy Wednesday to commemorate World AIDS Day and set a framework for how it intends to tackle the disease. In a fact sheet, President Joe Biden made clear that tackling inequalities in treatment for marginalized communities is a central principle.

“In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic that has impacted every aspect of the HIV/AIDS response, from prevention to treatment to research, the United States is redoubling efforts to confront the HIV/AIDS epidemic and achieve equitable access to HIV prevention, care and treatment in every community,” read the statement.

The administration has emphasized the importance of access to the Affordable Care Act, a focus on the aging population of HIV patients, and a call to tackle related problems like substance use and mental health care.

In a teleconference on Tuesday, senior administration officials said that the strategy included community input and that there would be a focus on equity by "addressing stigma and discrimination and ensuring that also marginalized populations have access to healthcare.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1.19 million Americans aged 13 and older had HIV in 2019 with the bulk of diagnoses among Black and Hispanic Americans. There were 15,815 HIV-related deaths.

Biden made combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic a priority during the 2020 presidential campaign.