As we mentioned in yesterday’s blog post, this Saturday. March 20th is the fourth National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Below are excerpts from a statement by Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, National Institutes of Health, on National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. To read the entire statement, visit the NIAID website.

Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director of NIAID

On National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of NIH, joins American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians in remembering those who have succumbed to HIV/AIDS. We at NIAID reaffirm our commitment on this occasion to the goal of controlling and ultimately ending this devastating pandemic.

An estimated 3,500 American Indians and Alaska Natives have been diagnosed with AIDS; more than 1,790 already have died. Tragically, the proportion of American Indians and Alaska Natives who survive after an AIDS diagnosis is smaller than that of any other U.S. racial or ethnic group...

I applaud the many individuals and organizations who are working in native communities to promote HIV testing, prevention and linkage to care; to foster tolerance of homosexuality; and to reduce alcohol and substance abuse. We at NIAID stand with American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians in the ongoing battle against the HIV/AIDS pandemic.