Saturday is National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

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Category: HIV Populations
Published on Saturday, 19 May 2012 00:00
Written by Liz Highleyman
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May 19, 2012, marks the 8th annual observation of National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, an occasion to increase awareness of HIV within these communities.

The day was started by the Banyan Tree Project, which is sponsored by the Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center in San Francisco, with collaborating partner organizations in Boston, Chicago, Honolulu, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while Asians have lower HIV incidence and prevalence rates compared with other racial/ethnic groups, the number of HIV diagnoses in this group has increased in recent years. The number of diagnoses among Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders is disproportionately high, but has recently remained stable. The agency estimates that just over 800 Asians and approximately 60 Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders were diagnosed with HIV in 2010, together accounting for 1.9% of all diagnoses reported that year.


This year's theme is "Saving face can't make you safe. Talk about HIV -- for me, for you, for everyone." The goals of the day are to encourage Asians and Pacific Islanders to learn more about HIV/AIDS and its impact in their communities, promote HIV counseling and testing, and help decrease stigma associated with HIV.

Further information and resources:

5/19/12

 

Sources

AIDS.gov. National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day web site. http://aids.gov/awareness-days/national-asian-pacific-islander.

CDC. National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day web page. http://www.cdc.gov/Features/APIHIVAwareness.