HIV/AIDS Prevention

The National Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA) sponsored observance of the third annual National HIV Testing Day on June 27.

NAPWA began the national campaign in 1995 as part of its ongoing efforts to encourage voluntary HIV-antibody testing and counseling. NAPWA once again partnered in this promotion with the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), the National Lesbian and Gay Health Association, and a network of national endorsing organizations.

The principal purpose of the annual campaign is to educate the general public about HIV counseling and testing and to encourage those at risk for infection to take the test and "take control." This year the campaign focused on reaching women, people of color, and youth. Most of the posters and other promotional materials were produced in Spanish as well as English.

NAPWA used a grass-roots poster campaign, news media, public service announcements, and print advertisements to promote this year's National HIV Testing Day. Special efforts were made to encourage local participation in states and major urban areas with high HIV sero-prevalence rates, including California, Florida, New York, Illinois, Puerto Rico, Texas, and Washington, D.C.

NAPWA believes that medical and social advances of the past decade make it possible for many more people to benefit from voluntary testing, counseling, and comprehensive education about HIV/AIDS. As a result of new medical therapies and other scientific findings, HIV disease has become a more manageable condition, and scientists believe that the earlier an infected person begins to monitor his or her health, the better their chances are of staying healthy and living longer. Equally important, HIV-infected people who know their serostatus can then take steps to reduce the risk of transmitting the virus to others.

Additionally, HIV counseling and testing provide an excellent opportunity to establish direct dialogue with those who are uninfected and assist them in continuing protective behaviors or modifying risky ones to keep them free of infection.

NAPWA acknowledges that learning one's HIV status remains difficult for a variety of social, medical, and psychological reasons. However, the organization believes that HIV testing, when combined with clear and comprehensive education, privacy assurances, and linkages with needed services, offers important benefits that far outweigh the potential harm for the person being tested.

The Acting Executive Director of NAPWA, Mr. A. Cornelius Baker, says, "It is by speaking in one voice -- one very loud voice -- that we can make our best efforts toward ending HIV disease."

For additional information, contact Ms. Elisa Luna, NAPWA's Director of Education and Outreach, by telephone at 202-898-0414 or by E-mail at napwa@thecure.org.

For information about testing opportunities in your local area, call the CDC National AIDS Hotline at 800-342-AIDS.

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