National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is observed annually on February 7, during Black History Month. The day raises awareness about the impact of HIV on black or African American communities. Black people make up 13 percent of the U.S. population but were 42 percent of new HIV diagnoses in 2018, according to the CDC. This annual day of awareness is meant to increase testing, education, and treatment in the Black community.
Black communities have made great progress in reducing HIV. Yet racism, discrimination, and mistrust in the health care system may affect whether Black people seek or receive HIV prevention services. These issues may also reduce the likelihood of engaging in HIV treatment and care.
To continue to reduce the burden of HIV and other health risks, people need adequate housing and transportation, employment, access to culturally competent health services that are free of stigma and discrimination, and more.
We are proud to join My Brother’s Keeper in Making HIV Black History this NBHAAD. When our communities Get Educated, Get Tested, Get Involved, Get Treatment, we make progress in our goal to stop HIV together.
Together, when we work to overcome structural barriers to HIV testing, prevention, and treatment and to stop HIV stigma, we help reduce HIV-related disparities and health inequities in Black communities.
The North Carolina virtual town hall in recognition of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD) was held on February 7, 2023 and included the following guest speakers:
Kody Kinsley, NC Secretary of Health and Human Services
Dr. Victoria Mobley, HIV/STI Medical Director, Communicable Disease Branch
Dr. Raynard Washington, Mecklenburg County Health Director
Esther Ross, Vulnerable Populations Coordinator, Communicable Disease Branch
View the slides by clicking on the flyer to the left and watch the recording of the town hall below or on YouTube.
You can raise awareness of HIV among black communities and provide information on access to care using CDC’s Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign resources.
Let’s Stop HIV Together aims to empower communities, partners, and healthcare providers to reduce HIV stigma and promote prevention, testing, and treatment among all people in the United States. With campaign resources, partners and other organizations can play a role in preventing HIV and helping people with HIV stay healthy. The Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign is part of the national Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative.
You can use these social media graphics to help address the importance of reducing stigma with education and awareness, as they are in line with the North Carolina Ending the Epidemic (ETE) Plan that consists of three pillars: Engage and Embrace, Test and Treat, and Policy and Promotion. Each pillar has strategies, action steps and approaches to address stigma. The electronic version of the plan is available in English and Spanish.
Share the social media posts below to help raise awareness of HIV, address stigma and other barriers to care, and encourage people to get tested and know their status. Don’t forget to use the following hashtags with the sample social media messages below to spark conversations about HIV and highlight progress being made to reduce HIV in the United States.
Hashtags: Use #NBHAAD, #NBHAAD2023, and #StopHIVTogether on February 7 and the days leading up to National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day!
Follow and tag @NCDHHS on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Post 1:
Feb. 7 is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Let’s celebrate progress in reducing new HIV diagnoses among Black people while recognizing that to #StopHIVTogether, we must address barriers like racism, homophobia, & transphobia. https://bit.ly/3r6BxM5 #NBHAAD
Post 2:
National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is February 7 and is a day to address the impact of HIV on Black communities. When we work to overcome structural barriers to HIV testing, prevention, and treatment, we can #StopHIVTogether. https://bit.ly/3GkAgra #NBHAAD
Post 1:
Hoy es el Día Nacional de Concientización sobre el VIH/SIDA, un día para reconocer el progreso en la prevención y atención del VIH entre la raza negra y los afroamericanos. #DetengamosJuntosElVIH, el estigma y las barreras del VIH. https://bit.ly/3FTWpPk #NBHAAD
Post 2:
El Día Nacional de Concientización sobre el VIH/SIDA entre las Personas de Raza Negra (7 de feb) es para abordar el impacto del VIH. Juntos podemos hacer historia en comunidades negras al superar las barreras a pruebas, prevención, y tratamiento del VIH. https://bit.ly/3FTWpPk #DetengamosJuntosElVIH #NBHAAD
You have the power to take charge of your HIV status on your time, in your space. This National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, learn more about #HIV self-tests: https://bit.ly/3qhoMyX. #NBHAAD #StopHIVTogether
There are more options than ever to prevent HIV. Is PrEP right for you? This National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, learn more about your prevention options: https://bit.ly/3BEubFv. #NBHAAD #StopHIVTogether
How to Create a Carousel in Instagram Feed:
The H in HIV stands for human. HIV can affect anyone regardless of their sexual orientation, race, gender, or age. This #NBHAAD, let’s educate ourselves and one another about the facts and #StopHIVStigma. Learn how: https://bit.ly/3FVRYDt #StopHIVTogether
Being undetectable IS HIV prevention. Keeping an undetectable viral load keeps you healthy and prevents you from transmitting HIV to your sexual partners. https://bit.ly/3HGjJkW #NBHAAD #StopHIVTogether #UequalsU
Black communities have made great progress in reducing HIV. Yet to truly #StopHIVTogether, we must confront issues such as racism, discrimination, and mistrust in the health care system that prevent many Black people from accessing HIV testing, prevention, and treatment. https://bit.ly/3Hyhcq8 #NBHAAD
This National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, be the boss you know you are! There are more options than ever before to prevent #HIV. Find out what works for you: https://bit.ly/3GlsHjN. #NBHAAD #StopHIVTogether
Did you know PrEP is for women, too? #PrEP is a highly effective option to prevent HIV when taken as prescribed. This National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, learn more about adding PrEP to your sexual health toolbox: https://bit.ly/3HVfRcr. #NBHAAD #StopHIVTogether #ShesWell
Being undetectable IS HIV prevention. Keeping an undetectable viral load keeps you healthy and keeps your partner safe. https://bit.ly/3FmTQlc #NBHAAD #StopHIVTogether
42% of all new diagnoses are among African Americans. Among women, 57% of new HIV diagnoses are African American. PrEP medications can help prevent HIV. #StopHIVtogether. Get the facts. Get tested. Get PrEP. #ReadySetPrEP. Learn more: www.hiv.gov/PrEP #NBHAAD
Clinicians: #PrEP protects patients from HIV, but it’s prescribed at a lower rate for Black Americans. We must address systemic social and health inequities to #StopHIVTogether. This #NBHAAD, learn more about prescribing PrEP: https://bit.ly/3zTWttu.
Clinicians: PrEP protects patients from HIV, but it’s prescribed at a lower rate for Black Americans. We must address systemic social and health inequities to #StopHIVTogether. This #NBHAAD, learn more about prescribing PrEP: https://bit.ly/3FWOq3W.
Médicos: La PrEP protege a los pacientes afroamericanos contra el VIH, pero se receta en tasas más bajas. #DetengamosJuntosElVIH abordando las desigualdades sistémicas sociales y de salud. Este #NBHAAD, aprende más sobre cómo recetar la PrEP. https://bit.ly/3FWcUu9
Content Source: National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day | Awareness Days | Resource Library | HIV/AIDS | CDC