(NNPA) - When I was diagnosed with HIV more than 16 years ago, my wife, Cookie, and I visited Elizabeth Glaser, a mother and AIDS advocate who contracted the virus through a blood transfusion while giving birth to her daughter.

Earvin Johnson

Before she lost her courageous battle with AIDS in 1994, Elizabeth was an invaluable resource to us. Eventually, she asked me to become the face of the disease and to work to reduce the misperceptions around HIV/AIDS.

I started the Magic Johnson Foundation in 1991 to raise funds for community-based organizations dealing with HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs. Over the years our work has expanded. However, HIV/AIDS continues to be a core focus as the epidemic continues to grow.

Today, I stand with millions of Americans and others from around the world, whose lives have been touched by HIV/AIDS. While advances have been made, HIV/AIDS is still one of the greatest challenges facing our world—it knows no names, race, nationality, sexuality, religion or politics.

Last week the CDC released its 2006 HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report which reported that more than one million people in the U.S. are living with HIV/AIDS. These numbers represent the stark reality that there is still much to be done to slow the rate of new infections.

The African American community in particular, is the hardest hit. Although African Americans make up only 13 percent of the population, they account for almost half of the estimated number of HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed in 2006. As alarming as the numbers are for all African-Americans, they are even more shocking for African American women. A resounding 64 percent of all women living with HIV/AIDS in 2005 were Black. Further, another harsh reality is that HIV is the leading cause of death among Black women (including African American women) aged 25-34 years.

The first and arguably the most critical step is to get tested. There are many free HIV testing resources available. But we must face the fact that the strongest barrier to getting tested is often our own fears.

What we should be more afraid of is being HIV positive and not knowing it. Getting tested and staying (or returning) for the results is the only way we can treat the infection and stop its spread throughout our community.

In 2006, I launched the “I Stand With Magic” program, part of the “Campaign to End Black AIDS,” in partnership with Abbott, a global health care company. “I Stand With Magic” seeks to reduce the stigma of HIV in the African American community, increase awareness of testing, prevention and treatment and, ultimately, reduce the rate of new HIV infections among African Americans.

Knowing your status is the first step in fighting this disease. That’s one reason why the Magic Johnson Foundation, in partnership with local communities, our AHF Magic Johnson Healthcare Centers and partners such as Abbott, provides free and confidential HIV testing.

Still, it’s up to each of you to also do your part – get tested and learn your results.
Isn’t it time that we agree that enough is enough? Let’s bring attention back to this growing crisis and empower our community to take a stand and fight back. Let’s increase our collective efforts to work together, share our stories and fight this disease. We have the opportunity to save lives.

This is a special NNPA commentary.