The recently released HIV National Strategic Plan designates Native people as one of its priority populations and Native voices and leadership are vital to achieving our national goal of ending the HIV epidemic. This is reflected in this year’s theme for National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NNHAAD)Exit Disclaimer, that “Zero is Possible Together: Innovation + Awareness.”

The Indian Health Service (IHS) National HIV/AIDS Program in conjunction with the National Native HIV NetworkExit Disclaimer (NNHN) leads efforts for observing March 20 every year on the first day of Spring. NNHAAD serves to recognize the impact of HIV among Native populations and highlight the work happening in communities around the country to engage Native people, including American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, in fully ending the HIV epidemic. Together, we can empower others to share information about HIV and its impact in the Native community; provide accessible testing options and HIV counseling to Native people; and help decrease the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS.

TOOLS YOU CAN USE

HIV.gov, IHS, and NNHN provide resources such as educational videos, provider toolkitsExit Disclaimer, fact sheetsExit Disclaimer, and other materials from the HIV community and federal agencies. We encourage organizations to utilize the communication assets as a resource to promote NNHAAD and organize awareness day activities in your community.

GET FREE PrEP

You can share these materials, as well as information about the Ready, Set, PrEP program, a nationwide program that provides free PrEP medications to people who do not have insurance that covers prescription drugs.

If you are not eligible for this program, you can still receive PrEP medication free of charge at federally operated IHS clinics, using our HIV Testing Sites & Care Services Locator to find IHS, Tribal, and Urban Indian clinics, where patients can receive primary care, addition to labs, HIV and STI tests and PrEP services.

LET’S CONNECT

Join the conversation on social media platforms by using the hashtag #NNHAAD. You can also follow these handles for your NNHAAD messages and resources:

@HIVgovExit Disclaimer

https://www.facebook.com/IndianHealthServiceExit Disclaimer

https://www.facebook.com/NNHAAD1/Exit Disclaimer

@CDC_HIVAIDSExit Disclaimer

NNHN also has downloadable social graphics on their websiteExit Disclaimer, and you can stay updated on upcoming NNHAAD 2021 events by visiting www.nnhaad.orgExit Disclaimer. For additional HIV.gov resources and updates for other HIV observances, sign up for our email listserv.