Take the Test and Take Control: National HIV Testing Day

Content From: AIDS.govPublished: June 27, 20132 min read

Topics

Take control of your health and observe the nineteenth annual National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) by taking an HIV test. The 2013 NHTD theme, “Take the Test and Take Control,” promotes the importance of HIV testing in detecting, treating, and preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. CDC reported that, since the mid-1990’s, the number of people who are diagnosed with HIV each year has remained relatively stable at about 50,000 infections per year . Of the estimated 50,000 people diagnosed with HIV each year, nearly 1 in 5 are not aware they are infected . HIV care, and treatment provide long-term benefits to those person with HIV, and HIV testing provides persons with HIV an entry point to prevention, health-care, and social services that improve the quality of life and the length of survival for persons with HIV .

In observance and recognition of National HIV Testing Day 2013, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, released a statement on June 26, 2013. Secretary Sebelius also worked with the Aids.gov team to record video public service announcements providing information about the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the U.S. and addressing the impact of the domestic HIV epidemic on women.



For updates about SAMHSA’s role in addressing behavioral health and HIV/AIDS, visit SAMHSA’s Behavioral Health and HIV/AIDS webpage. This page highlights how SAMHSA is working to ensure that people who are living with HIV/AIDS and who have, or are at high-risk for having, a mental and/or substance use disorder have access to and receive appropriate behavioral health services. Additionally, this webpage features information about training and technical assistance as well as grant programs that focus on providing effective, culturally competent treatment, prevention, and services in minority communities.

Do you know your HIV status? Find an HIV testing location near you with Aids.gov’s HIV Testing and Care Services Locator so you can “Take the Test and Take Control.”

National HIV Testing Day Information and Resources:

Aids.gov National HIV Testing Day Webpage

CDC’s Act Against AIDS Webpage

National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States