SFDPH TURNS ITS BACK ON HIV PREVENTION FOR ASIANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS

Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center Raises Alarm in San Francisco

San Francisco, CA – San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) is awarding $6.6 million in funding for HIV prevention services, but efforts targeting Asians and Pacific Islanders (A&PIs) are being completely overlooked. The New Directions in HIV Prevention awards focus on the needs of gay and bisexual men, with special consideration for African Americans, Latinos, and transgender females. This trend is disturbing for A&PIs and other emerging populations in the HIV epidemic who are being deprioritized in national and local prevention plans.

Thirty years into the epidemic, CDC data reveal that A&PIs have the highest rate of increase in new HIV infections in the nation--the only statistically significant growth among any racial or ethnic group--yet over two-thirds of A&PIs have never been tested for HIV. In San Francisco, this trend in increased HIV infections is also evident: SFDPH data indicate that HIV/AIDS cases among A&PIs has gone from 6% to 10.3% from 2006-2010, nearly double the percentage in just four years. Despite this, A&PIs--who represent over a third of the San Francisco population--only receive about 10% of all HIV tests administered in the city.

SFDPH has suggested they expect the needs of A&PIs to be addressed by their awardees, though no plan to fill the gaps has been revealed. "As far as we know, none of the organizations have been notified that they will be expected to specifically serve A&PI gay and bisexual men or youth," says Lance Toma, executive director of Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center. Even if these organizations are mandated to include A&PIs in their prevention efforts, there is cause for concern since they are not equipped to address the unique cultural and linguistic needs of the A&PI community. "The recipient organizations don't have a track record of effectively serving our community," Toma says.

In the past ten years, nearly half of all A&PI-serving HIV organizations in the country have closed their doors due to massive funding cuts at local and national levels. Fewer culturally and linguistically appropriate HIV services are available to the growing A&PI population, despite the alarming increases in HIV infections. Until the commitment of state and local governments matches the needs of the community, the HIV epidemic will continue to rise unchecked among A&PIs.

"This is just bad public health policy," says Mike Rabanal, A&PI Wellness Center board chair. "The choices San Francisco makes have the power to shift national HIV policy. If we fail to address the public health needs of the significant A&PI population locally, we're sending a message that the impact of the epidemic in our communities doesn't matter."

About Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center

Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center is a health services, education, research and policy organization dedicated to educating, supporting, empowering and advocating for Asian and Pacific Islander (A&PI) communities—particularly A&PIs living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS. With staff fluent in 20 languages, A&PI Wellness Center delivers programs regionally, statewide and nationally, and collaborates with community-based organizations throughout the Asia Pacific Region. For more information please visit www.apiwellness.org.

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