Black Nurses Rock President Lisa Williams holds up a card informing people about the importance of getting testing for HIV. BNR members volunteered their time to get people tested at Walgreens for National HIV and AIDS Testing Day on Thursday. (Raquel Villatoro/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Black Nurses Rock Tyler volunteered their time to get people tested for National HIV and AIDS Testing Day on Thursday as part of a partnership they have with Walgreens.

HIV and AIDS is an area Black Nurses Rock (BNR) aims to help with due to the high rates in the Black community.

“We definitely want to make sure that we reach everyone to empower them about how important is knowing their status,” said BNR President Lisa Williams. “That’s one of the things we’re really wanting to make awareness for the Black [community]. Because we are in the lead [with] high numbers.”

Black women make 48.1% of cases in Texas, the highest of any ethnicity group. Black men make up the second highest percentage of cases after Latino men in Texas, at 31.8%, according to the Texas HIV Surveillance 2021 Report.

In East Texas, Black people have higher HIV mortality rates than overall rates in Texas and the United States. They are 7.5 times higher than HIV mortality rates for white people, according to the Health Status of Northeast Texas 2021 Report.

In addition to HIV and AIDS testing, BNR provided syphilis testing because the Black community also faces higher rates.

In the United States, Black men have the highest rates of primary and secondary syphilis of any race/ethnicity among men. Black men make up 68.3% of reported cases. This is 5.8 times higher than white men, according to the 2021 Sexually Disease Surveillance Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Williams greeted people “Welcome to Walgreens” as they walked into Walgreens at 110 S SW Loop 323 on Thursday. BNR members took shifts from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. to provide the free testing.

As customers walked by, BNR members asked if they would like to be tested.

Some people asked questions. Some walked up to them wanting to get tested. They tested about seven people, Williams said.

After talking to customers, interested individuals sign an informed consent form stating they understand they will be receiving the test and agree to do it. The individuals are then taken to the Walgreens Pharmacy where BNR nurses ask them questions regarding sexuality and health.

“If they don’t want to answer, it’s all right with us,” said founding BNR member Willie Jean Mims, 69. “We just want them to get tested. We’re not actually here to know their business. We’re just happy that they want to be tested.”

After a swab test, patients get their results after 20 minutes.

Walgreens first heard of BNR after they went viral from pictures they took with Greater Than AIDS. They were picked to present on how to set up for testing for HIV and AIDS.

“We been killing the game ever since,” Williams said.

Walgreens has been a good partner to BNR, Williams said. They provided the table, pamphlets, balloons and helped them set up.

Everyone between ages 13-64 should get tested for HIV, Williams said. People should get HIV and AIDS testing when they go see their doctor for their yearly check-ups, Williams added.

In the future, BNR hopes to see more people get tested and bring about more awareness.

“[We want to] let people know this is like a birthday. We’ll be here every year,” Williams said.

As nurses, Williams aims to be transparent with people. BNR members are checked every year as well.

“We test as well because we don’t believe in doing anything we don’t do. So that’s one of the things about us. We want them to know we do it as well. So it’s OK for them to do it. Lead by example,” she said.

Talking about HIV and AIDS is important to help lessen the stigma surrounding it. In the past, BNR said they have heard people assume it is a disease only gay people are affected by it, but it can affect anyone, Williams said. She and Mims believe with more information, they can help people get the care they need.

“It’s OK. You’re not alone. There’s someone else going through this and we want to make sure you get the proper care,” Williams said.

In the future, BNR is partnering with a fraternity for a back to school event in August. On Oct. 19 at & p.m., they will have their second annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Fall Ball at the Holiday Inn in Tyler. For more information about BNR and upcoming events, visit their Facebook page or https://www.blacknursestylertexas.com/.