March 20 is National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness DayExit Disclaimer (NNHAAD), observed on the first day of Spring each year. The theme for 2022 is “Reflection. Celebration. Rejuvenation.” The 2022 NNHAAD poster, designed by Jolene Yazzie (Diné), highlights this year’s theme to reflect the resilience of surviving the COVID-19 pandemic and to begin healing and rejuvenation.

The National Native HIV NetworkExit Disclaimer (NNHN), in conjunction with the Indian Health Service (IHS) National HIV/AIDS Program, leads efforts for observing NNHAAD. 

This observance recognizes the impact of HIV among Native people (American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians) and highlights HIV efforts in communities around the country. The awareness day is an opportunity to share information about HIV and its impact in the Native community; provide accessible testing options and HIV counseling; and help decrease the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS.

The updated National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS) designates Native men who have sex with men as one of its priority populations. “Native people’s input is essential in achieving the national goal of ending the HIV epidemic,” says Rick Haverkate, National HIV/HCV Program Consultant for IHS, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In addition to their contributions to the NHAS, Haverkate and the IHS began a project to indigenize the NHAS, making it fit better into Native communities, adding additional language to make the NHAS harmonious with the various Native cultures.

NNHAAD is a national effort to encourage Native people throughout the United States and Territorial Areas to get educated, tested, involved in prevention, and treated for HIV.

RESOURCES

HIV.gov, IHS, and NNHN provide resources such as educational videos about PrEP for HIV preventionExit Disclaimer, HIV stigmaExit Disclaimer, and HIV data for American Indians and Alaska NativesExit Disclaimer, training videos, provider toolkitsExit Disclaimer, fact sheets, and other materials from the HIV community and federal agencies. Organizations are encouraged to use these communication assets as resources to promote NNHAAD and organize awareness day activities in their community. HIV.gov offers an event planning guide for awareness day activities, the National Indian Health Board provides a social media toolkitExit Disclaimer, and NNHAAD.org has a national awareness day events calendarExit Disclaimer, and a poster that can be downloaded from the NNHAAD websiteExit Disclaimer.

The 2022 NNHAAD poster portrays a hand image with a fern leaf that represents rejuvenation within the background image of water, which signifies continued life and reflection of the progress made in ending the HIV epidemic in our indigenous communities.

GET FREE PREP

Ready, Set, PrEP is a nationwide program that provides free PrEP medications to people who do not have insurance that covers prescription drugs. Individuals who are ineligible for this program can still receive free PrEP medications at federally operated IHS clinics. Use the HIV Testing Sites & Care Services Locator to find IHS, Tribal, and Urban Indian clinics where patients can receive primary care, in addition to labs, HIV and STI tests, and PrEP services.

CONNECT WITH US

Join the conversation on social media by using the hashtag #NNHAAD. Find NNHAAD messages and resources:

• @HIVgovExit Disclaimer
• https://www.facebook.com/IndianHealthServiceExit Disclaimer
• https://www.facebook.com/NNHAAD1/Exit Disclaimer
• @CDC_HIVAIDSExit Disclaimer
• InstagramExit Disclaimer

For updates about other HIV observances and additional HIV.gov resources, sign up for our email listserv.

The National Native HIV NetworkExit Disclaimer is an Indigenous-led initiative that mobilizes American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities affected by HIV through peer-to-peer and programmatic support, training, and capacity-building assistance. Their comprehensive approach is rooted in their cultural values, teachings, and affection for these communities. With support from the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health’s Minority HIV/AIDS Fund through the IHS, the Albuquerque Area Indian Health BoardExit Disclaimer coordinates a wide array of key stakeholders from the 12 IHS Areas to form the NNHN.