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May 19 is National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

This Sunday, May 19, marks the 9th annual observation of National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, an occasion to increase awareness of HIV within these communities and stress the importance of testing and treatment.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while Asians have lower HIV/AIDS incidence and prevalence rates than other racial/ethnic groups -- approximately 1%-2% -- the number of diagnoses has increased steadily in recent years as the population is growing. The number of cases among Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders is disproportionately high, but has recently stabilized.

The theme for 2013 is "I'm talking about HIV…because saving face can't make you safe." The goals of the day are to encourage Asians and Pacific Islanders to learn more about HIV/AIDS and its impact in their communities, to promote HIV counseling and testing, and to help decrease stigma surrounding HIV.

Resources

• AIDS.gov: National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day web page.
• AIDSinfo: National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day web page.
• Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center.
• Banyan Tree: HIV/AIDS Awareness Day web page.
• Banyan Tree: 2013 events, including Twitter chat series(@BTPMay19).
• CDC: National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day web page.
• CDC: HIV/AIDS among Asians and Pacific Islanders fact sheet (from 2005).

5/15/13

Sources

AIDS.gov. National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day web site. http://aids.gov/awareness-days/national-asian-pacific-islander.

CDC. National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day web page. http://www.cdc.gov/Features/APIHIVAwareness.