National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

March 20th is National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness DayExternal
Members of the Native Community chose to observe NNHAAD on the day of the Spring Equinox because, for many, it represents a time of equality, balance, and new beginnings; a celebration of life for all people.
NNHAAD, now in its 13th year, encourages Native communities across the United States and territorial areas to get educated, get tested, and get involved in HIV prevention and treatment.
HIV in Native Communities in the United States
Of the 38,739 HIV diagnoses in the United States in 2017, Cdc-pdf
With more than 570 federally recognized AI/AN tribes who collectively speak more than 170 languages, and who vary in culture, beliefs, and practices, it is vital that prevention programs are aware of this diversity. Other factors—such as socioeconomic issues, stigma associated with HIV and gay or bisexual relationships, and high rates of STDs, like chlamydia and gonorrhea—can hinder HIV prevention and treatment.
Under the U.S. government-proposed HIV elimination initiativeExternal
The HIV Treatment Works Campaign encourages people living with HIV to Get in care Stay in care and Live Well.
What Can You Do?
Talk about it. Learn the facts about HIV, and share this information with your family, friends, and community. The CDC campaign Let’s Stop HIV Together, which is a part of Act Against AIDS, has many resources to combat HIV stigma.
Get Tested. Doing It is a national HIV testing and prevention campaign intended to motivate all adults to get tested for HIV and know their status. Knowing your HIV status gives you the control to keep you and your partner healthy. CDC recommends that everyone aged 13 to 64 get tested for HIV at least once and those at high risk get tested at least once a year.
To find a testing site near you, visit Get Tested, text your ZIP code to KNOWIT (566948), or call 1-800-CDC-INFO. You can also use a home testing kit, available in drugstores or online.
Protect yourself and your partner. If you are sexually active and/or use injection drugs, tools are available to prevent HIV:
- Use condoms the right way every time you have sex. Learn the right way to use a male condom or a female condom.
- If you are HIV-negative but at high risk for HIV, take daily medicine to prevent HIV, called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
- Talk to your doctor about post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) if you think you have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours and are not on PrEP.
- Never share needles or other equipment to inject drugs (works).
- Abstinence (not having sex) and not sharing needles or works are 100% effective ways to prevent HIV.
The following actions can also help lower your risk of getting HIV:
- Limiting your number of sex partners.
- Getting tested and treated for other sexually transmitted diseases.
- Choosing activities with little to no risk, like oral sex.
You can learn more about how to protect yourself and your partners and get information tailored to meet your needs from CDC’s HIV Risk Reduction Tool (BETA).