Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

February 7 is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day every year, and the Southern Nevada Health District is encouraging people to learn about their HIV status. In Clark County, about 70 percent of people living with HIV/AIDS are African-American.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in 16 black men will be diagnosed with HIV at some point in their lives and one in 32 black women infected with HIV. In 2010, African Americans accounted for 44% of new HIV infections. The rate of new HIV infections among black women is nearly 20 times that of white women and 25 times that of Hispanic women. African Americans are the racial or ethnic group most affected by HIV/AIDS in the United States. Most African-American women with HIV get the virus through heterosexual sex. Young black men who are gay or bisexual are most at risk of infection.

The goal of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is to focus efforts on testing, which is important for starting treatment, connecting people to care, and limiting the spread. It is also an opportunity to educate the African American community about the risks associated with HIV infection and prevention methods. Early diagnosis is important for people with HIV so that they can benefit from treatment. It is estimated that nearly 40% of people with HIV are not diagnosed until they have progressed to the AIDS stage, which can occur 10 years after infection. Additional recommendations from the CDC include annual testing of individuals who engage in high-risk sexual behavior or use intravenous drugs. Pregnant women should be tested during the first months of pregnancy to help rule out HIV transmission to their babies.

How to celebrate Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

On Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. Find out more information regarding HIV/AIDS status among African Americans. Spread your knowledge to friends around, help prevent the increase of HIV/AIDS infected people. Encourage black people living with HIV to join medical communities for testing and treatment. Share the information you find out, along with spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS to everyone around with the hashtag #BlackHIV/AIDSAwarenessDay.