PACHA Panelist: Black Women & PrEP
Dr. Robinson at the PACHA Meeting in Houston, TX
In March 2024, I had the distinct honor of presenting at the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA) meeting in Houston, Texas, as part of a panel focused on a critical and long-overlooked issue: Black women and HIV prevention through PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis).
Held in a city rich with history and cultural significance—especially for Black communities in the South—this convening served as a timely and powerful space to speak truth to power. Alongside fellow advocates and experts, I shared insights on how we can reframe HIV prevention for Black women, shifting from a lens of risk to one of resilience, agency, and access.
Key Messages from the Panel:
Representation matters. Black women continue to be underrepresented in PrEP access, visibility, and messaging—even though many are disproportionately impacted by HIV.
Barriers to PrEP use aren’t just clinical—they’re structural. From medical mistrust and stigma to lack of culturally relevant information and provider bias, we must address the full landscape of barriers Black women face.
Prevention must be designed with and for us. That means ensuring that the lived experiences of Black women—cis, trans, queer, Southern, and everything in between—are centered in how we build programs, fund initiatives, and measure success.
PACHA’s willingness to hold this conversation publicly marked a meaningful step forward. But more than anything, this panel reminded me of the power of visibility, narrative, and action. Being in a room where Black women’s voices were not only heard but prioritized was affirming—and necessary.
As we move forward, my hope is that this moment sparks deeper investment, authentic collaboration, and long-term change in how we approach HIV prevention. Because Black women deserve to be more than a footnote in the public health response—they deserve to lead it.
