Today, April 10, 2013, is National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. It is a day established by the international AIDS conference, Advocates for Youth, and a coalition of other HIV/AIDS and health care organizations to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS among young people and to recognize the key role that American youth plays in our fight against HIV/AIDS.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 26% of new HIV infections each year occur among those between the ages of 13 and 24. Of those infected, approximately 60% are unaware that they have the virus. I encourage everyone, of all ages, to get tested to know their status. Awareness and education about HIV/AIDS is an essential step towards its eradication. With this in mind, I am proud to have become today a cosponsor of the Bicameral Resolution Recognizing National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day.
For more information on HIV/AIDS and youth, visit the CDC’s website here. To find a testing site in your area, search for one using your zip code here.