HIV awareness days are perfect times for talking about getting tested for HIV and, for those with HIV, getting and staying in care. Please read and share the resources below. Together, we can end the HIV epidemic.

Raise Awareness All Year

• February 7th: National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) is celebrated every year on February 7th and is an opportunity to raise awareness about the impact of HIV on African American communities. NBHAAD highlights the importance of social support – from friends, family, colleagues, and partners – when addressing HIV.
   
• March 10th: National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day  (NWGHAAD) is a day to bring attention the need for all women, including pregnant women, to get tested and get treatment if they are living with HIV. Sharing information and empowering women and girls to learn more about the importance of HIV prevention, care, and treatment can save lives.
   
• March 20th: National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NNHAAD) is a day to raise awareness of HIV in Native communities – American Indians, Alaska Natives, and native Hawaiians – to reduce HIV stigma, encourage testing, and encourage treatment for people with HIV. 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.
   
• April 10th: National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD) raises awareness about the impact of HIV on youth and highlights the work that young people are doing to reduce HIV in their community. Young people are the least likely age group to know their HIV status, be linked to care in a timely manner, and have suppressed viral load.
   
• June 27th: National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) encourages people to get tested for HIV, know their status, and get linked to care and treatment. The CDC recommends that everyone ages 13-64 get tested for HIV at least once. People at high risk should test at least once a year.
   
• September 18th: National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (NHAAA) raises awareness about the growing number of people living long and full lives with HIV and the unique challenges faced by the aging population around HIV prevention, testing, care, and treatment. Although HIV risk factors are similar for all adults, older adults may be less aware of these factors and the importance of testing to detect HIV in its earliest stages.
   
• October 15th: National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) promotes HIV testing, prevention, and treatment in Hispanic/Latinx communities and provides them with information on access to care. 1 in 6 Latinxs with HIV do not know they have it and people who do not know they have HIV cannot take advantage of HIV care and treatment and may unknowingly pass HIV to others.
   
• December 1st: World AIDS Day (WAD) is observed each year on December 1st to raise awareness of the global impact of HIV and AIDS. It provides an opportunity to draw attention to the HIV epidemic around the world. Use WAD to join people around the world to unite in the fight against HIV, show your support for those living with HIV, and remember those we have lost.

For more information on community HIV testing or HIV Awareness days, contact the Health Education Division at 910-814-6195 or 910-893-7550.