Taking Action to Respond to HIV and AIDS Among Women and Girls

Did you know that every 35 minutes a woman tests positive for HIV in the U.S.? That's why the Office on Women's Health (OWH) is encouraging women to get tested and help raise awareness of the increasing impact of HIV and AIDS on women and girls for National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day to watch a live webcast of this event.

OWH has posted NWGHAAD resources account and the NWGHAAD MySpace pageExit Disclaimer.

Organizers in communities across the country are using online and in-person strategies to get the word out about NWGHAAD. In Chicago, The Red Pump Project is asking bloggers to write about the impact of HIV and AIDS on women and girls as part of the annual “Rock the Red PumpExit Disclaimer campaign. And they are hosting a fashion showExit Disclaimer to honor HIV/AIDS activist Rae Lewis-ThorntonExit Disclaimer. In keeping with their mission to initiate conversation and spread awareness, The Red Pump Project will also launch a Twitter discussion on March 10th about women and HIV/AIDS using the #redpump.Exit Disclaimer. In 2009, the usage skews to slightly more women than menExit Disclaimer. Clearly, strategies that combine online and offline components have the potential to reach a broad group of women and girls going forward.

What can you do today to encourage HIV testing for NWGHAAD? You can join the #NWGHAAD10 Twitter discussionExit Disclaimer. You can find an event or send a text message with your ZIP code to "KNOWIT" (566948) to find your local HIV testing center.

Thanks to all those getting the word out for NWGHAAD, including OWH — and many, many others! Who is taking action to address the effects of HIV and AIDS on women and girls in your community? How will you take action on NWGHAAD? Let us know!