Silent No More: National Black HIV AIDS Awareness Day February 7

Three in five Black Americans know someone living with or who has died from HIV/AIDS.

Black America represents 44% of all new HIV infections, yet account for less than 12% of the population

Tomorrow, February 7, is National Black HIV AIDS Awareness Day. At our clinic, we are pitching a news story to the local media about the importance of this day. Will they pick up the story for the newspaper and TV? We don’t know yet, but they should.

How can you get involved in this important day? Here are 5 ways:
1. Get tested for HIV. If you know your HIV status, you can get on treatment and protect yourself and your partners.
2. If you are HIV positive, get on medication and see your HIV specialist doctor regularly. The goal is to have a non-detectable virus in your blood. This does not mean you are cured, but taking daily medication for HIV will keep the infection from ravaging your immune system.
3. Use a condom when you have sex.
4. If you are sexually active with multiple partners, and you are HIV negative, find out more about Truvada, a daily medication to keep you HIV negative.
5. Educate yourself about HIV. Talk to your family and friend about it. This will help reduce the stigma still associated with HIV infection. We cannot be silent about this anymore.

We have the tools to end the HIV epidemic in the United States, including the Black community. Through testing, education, and medications, we can prevent new infections. People with HIV can now live long, healthy lives.

Spread the word about Black HIV AIDS Awareness Testing Day on February 7. Our lives are too valuable to let this epidemic continue in the Black community.