Miami Herald - April 14, 2000
Andrea Robinson

The U.S. House is considering a request by U.S. Rep. Carrie Meek of Miami to fund a $10 million ad campaign that targets the 20 U.S. counties with the greatest number of minority HIV infections, including Miami-Dade.

The campaign would be patterned after the successful anti-drug campaign sponsored by the U.S. office of drug control. The most popular ad showed an egg sizzling in a frying pan and ends with the tag line: "This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs."

Meek pointed to a new study showing the prevalence of AIDS infection among African Americans as the reason why the campaign is needed.

The study by the California-based Kaiser Foundation showed that African Americans, who account for 12 percent of the U.S. population, make up 45 percent of new AIDS cases reported in 1998. The study showed that while the total incidence of HIV and AIDS is decreasing in communities of color, the number of new infections is increasing.

"I suspect that African American and other minorities aren't getting the word on the dangers of HIV," Meek said.

Meek is pushing to include the funding in a bill being drafted by a House labor, health and human services appropriations subcommittee. If passed, it would go to the full House and Senate.

Meek's request comes as the state holds two public hearings in Miami-Dade before a state panel that will make recommendations to Gov. Jeb Bush and state health officials. The hearings, which kicked off Thursday in Florida City, conclude later today with a meeting at North Shore Medical Center in North Dade.

The task force, created last year, is holding meetings across Florida to get input from communities on the best way to fight the disease.

Tom Liberti, chief of the Bureau of HIV/AIDS for the state department, said participants at hearings held in Jacksonville, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale raised several patient issues involving food, child care and transportation.

Liberti said some concerns illustrate how the disease, once viewed largely as a problem for gay white men, has shifted to other communities.

Activists and health care providers will recommend ways to strengthen messages focused on combating the virus, early intervention and treatment efforts among minorities.

"It's become a crisis," said Magaly Prezeau, regional minority HIV/AIDS coordinator for Miami-Dade County.

According to Miami-Dade health department figures, minorities make up about 80 percent of HIV and AIDS infections. Blacks account for 49 percent of AIDS cases, while Hispanics account for 33 percent. Of HIV infections, blacks make up 57 percent versus 29 percent for Hispanics.

Along with the task force, the state last year launched its own $750,000 AIDS awareness campaign. Liberti said the first ads will appear in May, primarily on black-oriented radio stations and newspapers.
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