Newburgh - National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) is an annual campaign produced by the National Association of People with AIDS to encourage at-risk individuals to receive voluntary HIV counseling and testing.
Locally, the Greater Hudson Valley Family Health Center invited the community to get tested. Carolyn Saldana, Director of HIV/AIDS Services at the Family Health Center, organized the event said, "It’s important to raise awareness in the community about AIDS and HIV. People have to take the first step, and get tested."
She points out that knowing your status is important. "Once you know your status, we can focus on keeping you safe."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 180,000 to 280,000 people nationwide are HIV-positive, but are unaware of their status.
"An early diagnosis could mean the difference between life and death," urges Paul Kawata, Executive Director of the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC). "Those who know their status can get into care and treatment earlier, improving their chances for long term survival. They also can learn how to protect their partners and stop the further spread of the disease."
Testing for HIV remains a vital combatant in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. HIV counseling and testing enables people with HIV to take steps to protect their own health and that of their partners, and helps people who test negative get the information they need to stay uninfected.
One of the goals for the day was to reach out to communities at increased risk of HIV infection, including African-American and Latino populations, both of which are disproportionately affected with HIV when compared to other demographic groups in the United States. Though each represents only approximately 13% of the U.S. population, African-Americans and Latinos account for over 70% of all new HIV cases reported each year to the CDC.
Rates of HIV infection are on the rise among Asian and Pacific Islanders and Native Americans as well. "Social, economic, educational and political disenfranchisement have helped fuel HIV infections in communities of color nationwide," says Ravinia Hayes- Cozier, NMAC’s Director of Government Relations and Public Policy. "Yet unchecked rates of HIV could undermine their very future. We must promote culturally competent and consistent prevention, testing, and treatment messages to those most at risk."
