‘Mahogany Blue’ focuses on the health and well-being of Black women in Wayne County

Income, discrimination, and stigma all contribute to Black women in Wayne County having far higher rates of HIV than white women. A new state program aims to give them more control over their sexual health. 

While there’s been a lot of good news about HIV and AIDS since the 1980s, Americans are still being infected. Particularly Black women.

Between 2021 and 2023, nearly 8 in 10 women diagnosed with HIV in Wayne County were Black. And the rate of new infections among Black women is 10 times that of white women—which sends a clear message that tools to prevent and treat HIV are not reaching the people who could benefit most.

“I have been losing so many of my friends and loved ones to the HIV epidemic,” said Monica, of Detroit, who shared her story through MIPrEP MIChoice. The campaign spotlights stories from Michiganders who use the medication known as “PrEP” to prevent the spread of HIV.

PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, can reduce the chance of getting HIV up to 99% for sexual encounters and 74% for injection drug use. “My main goal is to stay protected, live a long, happy, healthy life, and to still have healthy sex,” Monica said. “When you’re on PrEP you can do all of those things. PrEP gives me that sense of choice.”

READ MORE: How to advocate for yourself with your doctor 

As part of ongoing efforts by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) to create more equitable access to health care, their newest campaign—Mahogany Blue—emphasizes the significance of PrEP in protecting Black women in the fight against HIV/AIDs.

Mahogany Blue features Black women and highlights the tools and resources available for women who want to take control of their sexual health and take proactive steps to prevent getting infected with HIV. 

The inclusion of the word “mahogany” in the campaign’s tagline is a nod to the resiliency of Black women, while “blue” references the color of the original PrEP pill. 

“It’s important that we continue efforts to reach people across our state and inform them of ways to lower the chance of contracting diseases like HIV,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive, in a press release about the program.

”This campaign is another example of our efforts to keep Michigan residents informed and protected.” 

Wayne County is among 57 jurisdictions across the US that have been awarded funding through the federal government’s Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative. Wayne County’s EHE—a partnership between MDHHS and the Detroit Health Department—has a five-year plan to reduce HIV infections in Wayne County by 75% by 2025, and by at least 90% by 2030. 

To find a PrEP provider or navigator, along with stories from other Michiganders who are using PrEP, visit MDHHS’ website.