Meng, Johnson and Lee Push to Recognize Sept. 9 As National African Immigrant and Refugee HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Awareness (NAIRHHA) Day
September 9, 2022
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Hepatitis Caucus Co-Chairs Congresswoman Grace Meng (D-NY) and Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA), along with HIV/AIDS Caucus Chair Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), sent a letter with nine House colleagues to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services requesting support for the designation of September 9th as "National African Immigrant and Refugee HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Awareness (NAIRHHA) Day."
The correspondence seeks to raise awareness for HIV and viral hepatitis testing, diagnosis, care, and treatment for immigrants of African descent, who suffer HIV infection rates six times higher than the national average, and face the highest average chronic hepatitis B rates in the country with approximately 10 percent of people in these communities living with hepatitis B.
"Federal recognition of NAIRHHA Day will bring increased awareness and attention to the health issues of HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis in African immigrant and refugee populations in the U.S.," the letter states. "NAIRHHA Day will help to eliminate the pervasive stigma surrounding HIV and hepatitis in these communities by encouraging screenings, treatment, and hepatitis B vaccination. No existing HIV/AIDS awareness day addresses the distinct factors influencing the high rates of HIV and viral hepatitis among African immigrants and refugees."
Read the full letter hereand below.
Co-signers include Representatives Judy Chu (D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Mondaire Jones (D-NY), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and Nikema Williams (D-GA).
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The Honorable Rachel L. Levine, MD
Assistant Secretary for Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Dear Admiral Levine,
We write to request your support for the designation of September 9th as "National
African Immigrant and Refugee HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis Awareness (NAIRHHA) Day." As you
may be aware, the number of African immigrants and refugees living in the United States has
doubled every decade since 1970, reaching more than two million in 2018, according to the U.S.
Census Bureau. HIV infection rates are six times higher in the African immigrant population
than in that of the U.S. as a whole and are nearly twice those of U.S.-born Black individuals.
Additionally, African immigrants face the highest average chronic hepatitis B rates in the
country, with approximately 10 percent of people in these communities living with hepatitis B.
The CDC recommends that individuals born in Africa, or individuals born in the U.S. who have
at least one parent born in Africa, who were not vaccinated at birth, should be prioritized for
hepatitis B testing.
Despite these recommendations and high disease burden, African immigrant communities
face significant challenges to HIV and viral hepatitis testing, diagnosis, care, and treatment.
Challenges include stigma, fear, lack of awareness and knowledge, language barriers,
immigration status, social and economic marginalization, and limited access to health care
services. Often, care is inaccessible due to language and cultural barriers. Given that HIV and
hepatitis B and C are preventable and treatable conditions, we believe that, with appropriate
attention and focus, health outcomes among African immigrant communities can be improved
and lives can be saved.
Federal recognition of NAIRHHA Day will bring increased awareness and attention to
the health issues of HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis in African immigrant and refugee populations
in the U.S. NAIRHHA Day will help to eliminate the pervasive stigma surrounding HIV and
hepatitis in these communities by encouraging screenings, treatment, and hepatitis B vaccination.
No existing HIV/AIDS awareness day addresses the distinct factors influencing the high rates of
HIV and viral hepatitis among African immigrants and refugees.
We appreciate your consideration of this important issue and look forward to working
with you as we continue this effort to promote increased awareness, testing, prevention, and
treatment of viral hepatitis and HIV/AIDS among African immigrant and refugee communities in
the U.S. It is time for us to recognize NAIRHHA Day.
Sincerely,