Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2000. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
San Francisco Chronicle - Monday, September 25, 2000
Henry K. Lee, Chronicle Staff Writer
Satcher, 59, toured the four-story building near 76th Avenue and International Boulevard at the invitation of the Rev. J. Alfred Smith, senior pastor of the Allen Temple Baptist Church.
The two men have known each other ever since Satcher, at the time a leading church official in Washington, met Smith on church business -- and the friendship has remained fast ever since.
"What goes around comes around," Smith told his congregation yesterday before Satcher dropped by the Allen Temple Arms IV, housing financed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the city of Oakland, Alameda County and other groups.
The disabled housing facility, which will soon provide homes for 24 people, is part of the church's AIDS ministry. It underscores an important message, Satcher told Allen Temple members during his morning sermon.
"The enemy is not the people who are infected -- the enemy is the virus," Satcher said. "People with AIDS can be a tremendous resource."
Citing statistics showing that AIDS has a dramatically disproportionate effect on African Americans, Satcher hailed Smith for helping ensure that AIDS patients in Oakland's underserved communities of color are given a chance to lead their lives in a caring environment.
Satcher shared his prescription for healthy living: Exercise moderately at least five days a week for at least half an hour, eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, avoid smoking and abusing alcohol, and don't engage in irresponsible sexual behavior.
"No medications -- you can get that from another doctor. This is my prescription," Satcher said to laughter.
Satcher pointed out that African Americans make up 13 percent of the overall U.S. population but constitute 49 percent of AIDS cases. The mortality rate of African American AIDS patients is 10 times that of their white counterparts, indicating that many are not receiving early treatment.
Alameda County and Oakland have declared local states of emergency, saying that AIDS has reached epidemic proportions among African Americans. Satcher said those who are HIV- positive may not exhibit any symptoms for years and could pass the virus along unknowingly. And some people know they have AIDS and are consciously infecting others.
"That's why I believe that the AIDS pandemic is the worst infectious disease outbreak this quarter- century," Satcher said.
Researchers are making headway in the fight against AIDS, but to date there is still no cure. But thanks to science, doctors have been able to reduce the spread of HIV from mother to child by 90 percent, with medications available for only $4, Satcher said.
U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, told the congregation, "This AIDS pandemic is wreaking havoc on our community." She lauded Satcher for "beating drums and sounding the clarion call" on AIDS.
"I had this dream, that on Sunday I was going to be here at Allen Temple Baptist Church, but there was only one thing wrong: J. Alfred Smith was supposed to preach," Satcher said, drawing laughter.
After the surgeon general's sermon yesterday, Satcher prepared to fly to Jerusalem to be the commencement speaker at the Hebrew University School of Public Health. E-mail Henry K. Lee at hlee@sfchronicle.com.
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