Health Resources & Services Administration
1999
Minority AIDS Initiative Is Launched
By 1999, African-Americans made up only 13 percent of the U.S. population but accounted for 43 percent of all new AIDS cases. Similarly, Latinos represented 14 percent of the U.S. population and 22 percent of new AIDS cases.
| Minority Group | Proportion of U.S. Population | Proportion of U.S. Estimated New HIV/AIDS Cases |
|---|---|---|
| African-Americans | 13% | 43% |
| Latinos | 14% | 22% |
The alarming upward trend of AIDS incidence in the minority community led David Satcher, U.S. Surgeon General under President Clinton, to declare “a public health emergency,” noting that “the complexion of the epidemic has changed.”
To confront the health disparities that were contributing to higher rates of HIV/AIDS in minority communities, the Congressional Black Caucus began the Minority AIDS Initiative in fiscal year 1999. Congress responded by allocating $156 million to fund Minority AIDS Initiative efforts.
Since its inception, the Minority AIDS Initiative has realized positive outcomes, including improvement in the availability of services and access to care for minorities and an increase in the involvement of minorities in the planning process.