National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a nationwide observance that sheds light on the disease's impact on women and girls. Every year on March 10, and throughout the month of March, thousands of people, advocacy organizations, and local and state public health officials host events and share facts about HIV/AIDS. You are invited to:

• Learn about National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and HIV/AIDS
• Spread the word
• Join our partners at events around the country

HIV/AIDS is a serious public health issue for women and girls. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1.1 million people in the United States are living with HIV. Of those people, one in four (25%) is a woman 13 or older. Approximately 27,000 women have HIV but do not know they have the disease. Together we can:

• Encourage women and girls to get tested and know their status
• Help decrease the number of women who are HIV-positive
• Increase awareness of safe practices to prevent HIV infection
• Help people become aware of the levels of care and treatment

Read what Nancy C. Lee, M.D., Director, Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has to say about National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in her blog

Top 10 Ways You Can Take Action Against HIV/AIDS

• Get tested. Many women and girls who are HIV-positive don’t know they have the disease. The only way to know your status is to get tested. Find an HIV testing site near you. Nervous? Take a friend!
• Encourage a friend or family member to get tested, too. It’s easier and more affordable than ever to get tested, thanks to the Affordable Care Act. Most insurers must cover HIV testing without a copay for sexually active women.
• Understand how HIV is spread. Most women get HIV from having sex with a man who is HIV-positive. But HIV is spread other ways, too.
• Seek treatment if you are HIV-positive. Treatment can help people with HIV live longer, healthier lives. It also greatly reduces the chances of passing HIV on to others. Learn how to live with the disease.
• Protect yourself. You can’t tell whether someone is HIV-positive by looking at them. You’re in control of your health. Learn what steps you can take to protect yourself from HIV.
• Share knowledge. Talk to your friends, family, and others in your life about HIV/AIDS, how it’s spread, and what they can do to prevent it.
• Facebook, tweet, pin, and post. Help us reach more women and girls by joining the conversation online. We’ve made it easy for you with our sample posts, infocards, and infographic. Ask your friends and followers to get involved, too - and be sure you use the #NWGHAAD and #takeaction hashtags!
• Show your support! Update your social media profile pictures with a Twibbon today. You can also update your Facebook cover photo throughout the month of March.
• Find a Meetup in your area. Participate in activities that promote HIV/AIDS prevention and testing, as well as continuous care for women and girls who have the disease.
• Follow us! For the latest news on HIV/AIDS and other important women’s health issues, follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

By participating in National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, you will unite with others in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Together we can offer support and hope, reduce the stigma of HIV/AIDS, and empower women and girls to “Share Knowledge. Take Action.” 

Source: http://www.womenshealth.gov/nwghaad/