Breaking the Silence: National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (March 10th)
Every year on March 10th, we observe National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD)—a time to raise awareness about the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls and to empower individuals with the knowledge and resources to protect their health.
While tremendous progress has been made in HIV prevention, treatment, and care, women—especially women of color, transgender women, and young girls—continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. Stigma, misinformation, and lack of access to healthcare create additional barriers to testing, prevention, and treatment.
This NWGHAAD, let’s break the silence, advocate for health equity, and ensure that all women and girls have access to the tools they need to thrive.
HIV/AIDS is preventable, treatable, and manageable—but only if women and girls have access to education, testing, and care.
The Reality of HIV/AIDS Among Women and Girls
📌 1 in 5 new HIV diagnoses in the U.S. are among women.
📌 Black women are disproportionately affected, accounting for nearly 55% of new HIV cases among women despite making up only 14% of the female population.
📌 Transgender women—especially Black and Latina trans women—face high rates of HIV, often due to systemic barriers to healthcare and economic disparities.
📌 Young women (ages 13-24) are particularly vulnerable due to a lack of access to comprehensive sexual health education and healthcare services.
Why Are Women at High Risk?
🚫 Lack of access to healthcare—Routine HIV testing isn’t always offered to women, and many don’t realize they are at risk.
🚫 Gender-based violence & trauma—Women who experience intimate partner violence (IPV) are at higher risk of contracting HIV due to coerced or unprotected sex.
🚫 Stigma and misinformation—Many women fear getting tested due to shame, fear of discrimination, or lack of HIV education.
🚫 Barriers for transgender women—Trans women often face medical discrimination, unemployment, and housing instability, all of which increase their HIV risk.
Breaking Barriers: What Can Be Done?
✅ 1. Get Tested & Know Your Status
Routine HIV testing is essential. The CDC recommends that all people ages 13-64 get tested at least once, with more frequent testing for those at higher risk.
🔹 At-home HIV test kits are now widely available for privacy and convenience.
🔹 Many clinics and community health organizations offer free or low-cost testing.
👉 Find an HIV testing site near you: https://aidsvu.org/
✅ 2. Use PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)
PrEP is a once-daily pill or bi-monthly injection that reduces the risk of HIV by 99% when taken consistently.
🔹 Women, including trans women, can benefit from PrEP as an added layer of protection.
🔹 PrEP is affordable and covered by most insurance & assistance programs.
📍 Find a PrEP provider: PleasePrEPMe.org
✅ 3. Advocate for Comprehensive Sexual Health Education
Many women and girls lack accurate, inclusive information about HIV prevention and sexual health.
🔹 Support programs that provide age-appropriate, LGBTQ+ inclusive, and medically accurate sexual health education.
🔹 Have open, judgment-free conversations about sexual health with partners, friends, and family.
✅ 4. Fight Stigma & Support Women Living with HIV
Women living with HIV deserve support, respect, and access to care.
🔹 U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable) means that people with HIV who take medication and reach an undetectable viral load CANNOT pass the virus to others.
🔹 Trans women, Black women, and Latinas experience some of the highest rates of HIV-related stigma. Let’s work to break down misconceptions and support one another.
📍 Support organizations like:
The Well Project (www.thewellproject.org) – Support & education for women living with HIV
SisterLove (www.sisterlove.org) – HIV advocacy for women of color
Final Thoughts: Let’s Take Action Together
HIV/AIDS is preventable, treatable, and manageable—but only if women and girls have access to education, testing, and care.
This National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, take action by:
✔️ Getting tested & encouraging others to do the same
✔️ Advocating for PrEP access & inclusive healthcare
✔️ Fighting stigma & supporting women living with HIV
💖 Your health matters. Your voice matters. You are not alone. 💖
🔗 Learn more: https://www.who.int/
#NWGHAAD #WomenAndHIV #HIVAwareness #EndTheStigma #HIVTestingMatters
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