National Women and Girls

 HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

MARCH 10, 2012

Dr. Nancy C. Lee

By Nancy C. Lee, M.D., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health – Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Today, nearly 300,000 women are living with HIV in the United States. While men represent the majority of AIDS diagnoses, as well as new and existing HIV infections, the impact of HIV/AIDS on women has grown since the beginning of the epidemic. Compared with women of other races/ethnicities, African American women continue to be disproportionally affected by HIV/AIDS.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health will observe its 6^th annual National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on Saturday, March 10. This year’s theme is, “Every Moment is a Deciding Moment.” The message is to encourage everyone to take action in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a time to bring attention to the impact HIV/AIDS has on women and girls. It also serves as an opportunity for everyone across the country to come together to educate women and girls about prevention, the importance of getting tested, and how to live with and manage the disease.

 

Both the Affordable Care Act and National HIV/AIDS Strategy are helping in the fight against HIV/AIDS by improving health care access. Our hope is that by implementing both the Affordable Care Act and National HIV/AIDS Strategy, we will greatly reduce infections and one day, have an AIDS-free generation. We encourage individuals, communities, and organizations to join us to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS among women and girls.

 

A list of information about how to become involved can be found at the National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day website, my Dear Colleague letter, as well as the Office on Women’s Health Facebook and Twitter pages.