Three percent of all District of Columbia residents are living with HIV/AIDS, according to a report released in March by the District government. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers more than 1 percent to be an “epidemic.” The report also reveals that one-third to one-half of D.C. residents may not know their HIV/AIDS status. D.C. Lutheran Bishop Richard Graham responded to the new statistics with great sadness. “We have to remind ourselves that HIV/AIDS respects no boundaries, but especially targets poor people,” Graham told Sojourners. “We have to recommit ourselves to care for the poor. That’s one of our great callings.” Here are some of the D.C. numbers.
2,984. The number of D.C. residents per 100,000 over age 12 living with HIV/AIDS—about 3 percent of the population.
22 percent. The increase in HIV/AIDS cases in D.C. from 2006.
4.3 percent. African Americans in D.C. with HIV/AIDS. For Latinos, it’s 1.9 percent; for whites, it’s 1.4 percent.
6.5 percent. D.C.’s African-American men who are living with HIV/AIDS.
Source: “District of Columbia HIV/AIDS Epidemiology Update 2008.”
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