National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is an annual observance on March 10th to recognize the impact of HIV on women and girls. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ), nearly 280,000 of the more than 1.1 million people living with HIV in the United States are women. Women account for 1 in 5 new HIV infections in the U.S. The CDC recommends routine HIV screening for all adults ages 13-64 and repeat screening at least annually for those at high risk.
AIDS Foundation of Chicago ( AFC ) urges women to get tested for HIV. Free HIV testing will be available on Monday, March 10th at the Woodlawn Illinois Department of Human Services ( DHS ) office located at 915 E. 63rd street from 9am — 2pm. Additional free testing will take place the entire week of March 10th at multiple Illinois Department of Human Services ( DHS ) offices and Walgreens locations. Testing locations can be found online at www.aidschicago.org/women or by calling the Illinois Department of Public Health AIDS/HIV and STD Hotline at 1-800-243-2437, TTY ( hearing impaired use only ) 1-800-782-0423.
"Even though it may be difficult, knowing one's HIV status is empowering to women and can be used to promote condom usage and partner condom negotiation," said Cynthia Tucker, AFC's Director of Prevention and Community Partnerships. "We know that health care providers don't always offer women HIV or sexually transmitted infection testing, so all women should be proactive and seek HIV/STI testing. National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is the perfect time for women to learn their status."
AFC supports women and girls through its diverse programs and advocacy efforts. AFC is at the forefront of advancing the development, implementation and widespread adoption of new HIV prevention technologies like female condoms so that women can take control of their health and help prevent the contraction of HIV. Through its testing initiatives, AFC is meeting women during their everyday lives at human service offices and at events around Chicago to offer them testing, educate them about HIV risks and, if necessary, connect them to lifesaving medical care. Supportive housing programs managed by AFC enable households headed by women with HIV to be stably housed.
Through its multiple partner agencies, AFC can offer a wide range of services for HIV-negative and HIV-positive women who have children, are pregnant, struggle with substance use or have mental illness to get the care and support they need to address their immediate and long-term needs. To learn more about AFC's support of women and girls, please visit www.aidschicago.org/women.
Founded in 1985 by community activists and physicians, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago is a catalyst for local, national, and international action against HIV/AIDS.
