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National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Today is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, and the theme is "Honoring Our Sisters: Women Living with HIV/AIDS."
Women, especially women of color, continue to be at high risk of HIV infection, despite an overall decrease in new infections in New York City. While we have seen some success with the city's prevention efforts for women, it has not been enough. For instance, the total number of new HIV diagnoses in NYC has declined by 5% between 2005 and 2006, but has increased among women ages 13-29 (6%). Over 90% of these were black or Hispanic with heterosexual transmission as the main risk factor.
Nationally, since 1985 the proportion of estimated AIDS cases diagnosed among women has more than tripled, from 8% in 1985 to 27% in 2005. The epidemic has increased most dramatically among women of color, especially black women. In 2005, women of color accounted for 80% of all women estimated to be living with AIDS; black women made up 62% of this total. HIV and AIDS disproportionately affect Latina, Asian, Pacific Islander and Native American women as well. Recent studies reflect an alarming rise of HIV and AIDS cases among minority youth, including adolescent girls and young women.
GMHC is hosting a number of events and programs throughout the month of March to raise awareness of the devastating impact of HIV and AIDS on women, particularly women of color; and to promote continued HIV and AIDS education, prevention, care, treatment, and research to improve the lives of women across the life cycle infected and affected by HIV and AIDS.
Please click here to see the Calendar of Events.
- Look for the Women's Institute's exciting new marketing campaign HIV We're Not Taking it Lying Down on twin wallscapes at 125th Street and Broadway as well as Atlantic Ave and Broadway Junction in East New York, Brooklyn. Click here for more information.
- Join the New York Microbicides Working Group (co-chaired by GMHC's Policy Department and Women's Institute) as they host the traveling photo exhibit Giving Women Power Over AIDS this evening at MoCADA in Brooklyn and a film screening, In Women's Hands, at the Brooklyn Public Library tomorrow afternoon.
- Please click here for more details about upcoming women-specific testing events.
© 2008 Gay Men's Health Crisis
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