Today, February 7th, is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD).  This will be the 12th year, with events being held across the United States.  

This day of awareness began thanks to five key organizations: Concerned Black Men, Inc. of Philadelphia; Health Watch Information and Promotion Services, Inc.; Jackson State University - Mississippi Urban Research Center; National Black Alcoholism and Addictions Council; and National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS.  As resources and support in relation to HIV/AIDS has dwindled, Healthy Black Communities, Inc. has overseen the initiative this year.  

In 2009, according to the Center for Disease Control, African Americans made up 44% of the over 40,000 diagnosed HIV infections.  In 2008 the rate of infection was 9 times that of whites, and of the approximately 1.1 million people in the United States who are living with HIV/AIDS, almost half are black.  (Source: Black Aids Day)

The day calls for four specific points

• Education: To distribute information about HIV/AIDS locally.
• Testing: Establish February 7 as an annual day to get an HIV test.
• Involvement: Increase the number of Blacks involved locally.
• Treatment: For those newly testing HIV+ and those coming to terms with their status, get them aware of treatment services and information.

In cities such as Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, Newark, New York, Oakland, Philadelphia, Raleigh-Durham, San Francisco, Trenton and Washington, D.C. the black communities are disproportionately impacted and the rate of new infections are not decreasing.  

For more information on National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, visit www.blackaidsday.org. Regardless of race or time of year you can find information on where you can get tested at hivtest.org, a service of the CDC.