Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2009
March 10 is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day – a day to raise awareness of the increasing impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls and to encourage women and girls to take action and get tested for HIV. The 2009 theme is HIV is Right Here at Home.
In 2006, nearly 15,000 or more than a quarter of new HIV cases in the United States were among women and girls ages 13 years and older. Women of color are especially impacted by the disease.
HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death for African American women aged 25 to 34. The estimated rate of new HIV cases for black women was nearly 15 times that of white women and nearly four times that of Hispanic women.
CDC currently estimates that approximately one in five people living with HIV in the United States is unaware of his or her HIV infection. This can lead to unknowingly transmitting the virus to others. So the first step to protecting yourself and others is to get tested for HIV. Prompt and early diagnosis of HIV is critical to protecting your health and that of others. If you are a pregnant woman, it is especially important that you get tested early to help ensure, that if you are HIV positive, you do not transmit the virus to your unborn child.
Make National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a day to get the facts about HIV – to learn how HIV is spread, if you are at risk, and how to protect yourself and your loved ones. And, if you’re a parent, talk with your kids about HIV.
If you have never had an HIV test, or if your last HIV test was some time ago, please get yourself tested again. To find an HIV testing location near you, go to www.hivtest.org or text your zip code to KNOW IT.
Get tested as HIV is Right Here at Home.
What Can You Do?
- Get tested for HIV. To find a testing site center near you, text your zip code to Know IT (566948).
- Attend an event near you.
- Download or listen to National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (
2:56 mins) - Learn more about the impact of HIV/AIDS among women in the United States.
- Stand up against stigma, racism, and other forms of discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS.
- Donate time and money to HIV/AIDS organizations.
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