Saving face can’t make you safe. Talk about HIV—for me, for you, for everyone.
National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day will be observed nationwide on Friday, May 19 this year. Founded by the Banyan Tree Project with support from the CDC-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others, this awareness/testing event is a day to break the silence about HIV and AIDS in Asian and Pacific Islander communities and encourage individuals to get tested for HIV in all communities “from sea to shining sea”!
Although Asians and Pacific Islanders make up a small percentage of all HIV infections in the U.S.A., they accounted for 2% (1,047) of the estimated 44,784 new HIV diagnoses in the United States and 6 dependent US areas in 2014. That means according to the CDC, from 2005 – 2014, HIV diagnoses among Asian gay and bisexual men increased 101%.
Lily&Q’s: Wwhhaaattt? We have got to get the WORD out there!
Native Hawaiians and Other Pacific Islanders (NHOPI) accounted for less than 1% (58) of the estimated new HIV diagnoses in the United States in 2014. However, NHOPI had the fourth highest estimated rate of HIV diagnoses (10.6 per 100,000 people) in the United States by race/ethnicity. From 2005-20014, HIV diagnoses among NHOPI gay and bisexual men increased 27%.
Lily&Q’s: That’s way too high, too!
Doing It, CDC’s newest HIV testing campaign, featuring people sharing their stories about HIV testing to motivate all adults to get tested and know their status. This is a continuation of their campaign to ACT AGAINST AIDS.
Lily&Q’s say…
There is no time like the present to get an HIV test. If you are having unprotected sex of any kind, or mix drugs and/or alcohol when you party & play, knowing your HIV/STD test results TODAY empower you to protect those you love for one night or the one you’ve loved for a long time. Using protection everytime puts you in control of getting an HIV/STD!
Start now MAKE protection and regular testing a part of your “forward play”-It could save your life or at least an uncomfortable conversation or two with that someone(s)!