Many times we hear about HIV prevention and the importance of getting tested, but how does knowing your status help in the fight against AIDS?
There are several reasons: one, if you get tested routinely and are HIV-negative, this might be a strong motivator to act preventively and not leave anything to chance rather than continue playing Russian Roulette.
On the other hand, if you do test HIV-positive, the earlier you enter and undergo treatment, the better it is for your health in the long run. In fact, recent studies show that people who are under treatment— and adhere to it— are less likely to spread the virus to their partners, and more likely to live with HIV as a chronic condition as opposed to developing AIDS[1].
Furthermore, by getting tested routinely, you are also contributing to lowering new HIV infection rates. One of out five people living with HIV (PLWH) in the United States is unaware of their status[2], and contributes to the 56,300 new HIV infections every year.[3]
Today is World AIDS Day, and we all have to act against AIDS. One of the ways we can actively fight against this ageless, faceless, genderless, and creedless disease is by getting tested, knowing your status, and encouraging your loved ones to do the same.
To find your nearest testing site, visit www.hivtest.org or text your five-digit ZIP code to KNOWIT (566948).
NHCOA is a proud partner of the CDC’s Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative (AAALI), an effort to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS among diverse communities. For more information, visit www.actagainstaids.org. To learn more about World AIDS Day, visit http://aids.gov/world-aids-day/. To view and download material from NHCOA’s World AIDS Day communication kit, click here.
[1] The New England Journal of Medicine “Prevention of HIV-1 Infection with Early Antiretroviral Therapy”, August 2011. [cited; Available from: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1105243?query=OF&&]
[2] Aids.Gov. HIV/AIDS Basics: U.S. Statistics. [cited; Available from: http://aids.gov/hiv-aids-basics/hiv-aids-101/overview/statistics/]
[3] Idem.
