INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) is an HIV testing and treatment community mobilization initiative for Blacks in the United States. For 14 years now, the day has been designated as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and this day carries with it a consistent and powerful message- Get Educated, Get Tested, Get Involved, and Get Treated.
By emphasizing a consistent message, the NBHAAD initiative has been able to empower individuals to educate themselves on the basics of HIV and AIDS in their local communities, get tested to find out their HIV/AIDS status, and engage others to do the same.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports:
• Currently 1.1 million people are living with HIV in the United States (an estimated 1,144,500 adults and adolescents), and nearly one in six of those are unaware of their infections.
• Approximately 50,000 Americans become newly infected with HIV each year.
• More than 15,000 people with AIDS still die each year in the United States.
• Testing is essential to helping to prevent new infections.
The Florida Department of Health in Indian River County will be supporting National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2014 by hosting an event on Saturday Feb. 8 at the Gifford Youth Activity Center located at 4875 43rd Ave., Vero Beach, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Free breakfast will be provided. Come out and get tested for free.
For more information about this event contact John May at 772-794-7477 or 772-633-4724. You can find out more information on NBHAAD at www.nationalblackaidsday.org.
