June 26, 2012 | Health Matters

Tomorrow is National HIV Testing Day

Tomorrow, if you can do one thing for yourself, please go out and get tested for HIV.

“There are more reasons than ever this year to get tested and know your HIV status,” said Frank Oldham, Jr., President and CEO of The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA). “Testing is the first critical step to ensuring that people who are HIV-positive get connected to care. HIV treatments are becoming more effective with fewer side effects. People in treatment are living more normal lives with longer life expectancy. By knowing your status, you can begin effective treatment, protect yourself and be less likely to infect others.”

Now in its 18th year, the National HIV testing Day (NHTD) – founded by NAPWA in 1995 – is an annual event that encourages millions of Americans who are at risk for HIV to receive voluntary HIV counseling and testing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1.2 million individuals in the United States are infected with HIV, yet more than one in five do not know they are positive.

“NHTD is an opportunity for People Living with HIV/AIDS to take a leadership role in ending the epidemic by educating their communities on the need for testing,” Oldham added. 

Ignorance about your status is never an option.