March 20th is National Native American AIDS Awareness Day. AIDS and HIV, though declining nationally, are on the rise in many Native American communities, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. For Tulalip, HIV and AIDS have been steadily climbing, following that trend.
National Native American AIDS Awareness Day is intended to raise awareness about the unique challenges native American communities face that lead to increased risk. While race and ethnicity neither play no part in susceptibility nor create a predisposition to risk of infection, the demographic challenges many Native Americans face to lead to increased risk factors. These include cultural diversity, socioeconomic challenges, substance abuse, societal stigmas, mistrust of government health care, and lack of awareness because of cultural barriers.
National Native American AIDS Awareness day was first observed in 2007, and has been observed on the first day of spring each subsequent annum. To learn more visit http://aids.gov/news-and-events/awareness-days/native/
Awareness resources:
CDC HIV/AIDS info
Government awareness campaign.
Snohomish County Health District
Testing and Community Health Centers:
Sno Co Health District, contact for locations and more information.
Evergreen Aids Foundation, Contact
CHC of Snohomisch Count, Contact to schedule an appointment
Planned Parenthood, contact
