National Black AIDS Awareness Day

Saturday was the 9th annual National Black AIDS Awareness Day and health centers and community organizations around the country took action to raise awareness about the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in African American communities and to encourage people to get tested. http://www.stophivaids.org/

This annual day that highlights a problem over half a million African Americans live with every day (http://www.avert.org/hiv-african-americans.htm) was brought to people's attention here in Detroit as well. Dozens of organizations, including our Planned Parenthood health center in Midtown (http://www.plannedparenthood.org/midsouthmi/detroit-health-center-21577.htm), provided free HIV testing that day.

Knowing your status and practicing safe sex are the first steps in helping to stop the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Empowering your friends to get tested as well is essential for our communities' well-being.