National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is observed on May 19 every year in the United States. It was first observed in 2005. It falls during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The awareness holiday was founded by the Banyan Tree Project, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.). The aim is to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS in Asian and Pacific Islander communities. This helps prevent HIV, and it also helps those who are currently living with HIV. The day helps to break the silence and remove some of the stigma attached to HIV and AIDS in Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
History of National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is observed on May 19 every year in the United States. It helps to raise awareness and encourage people to get tested for HIV. HIV was first reported by the New York Times in 1981. There was an outbreak of a rare form of cancer among gay men in New York and California. It was referred to as the “gay cancer,” but was later identified as Kaposi sarcoma. Otherwise healthy young men were rushed to emergency rooms presenting with fevers, flu-like symptoms, and a rare type of pneumonia called Pneumocystis. There was a global outbreak that killed millions of people just within the course of a few years.
By the year 2009, scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill had decoded the structure of an entire HIV genome. This allowed scientists to develop newer diagnostic tools and targeted treatment for HIV. This effort led to the development of integrase inhibitors. These inhibitors are now used for first-line treatment in the United States.
In 2014, the World Health Organization and the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) announced their plan to end the HIV pandemic by the year 2030. They intend to do this by diagnosing 90% of people living with HIV worldwide. They would place them on HIV therapy and achieve an undetectable viral load. The program has faced some challenges which include ever-increasing rates of drug resistance and treatment failures worldwide and shrinking contributions from donor countries.
National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day timeline
Dr. Joseph Sonnabend is threatened with eviction for treating people who have HIV.
As recommended by the Public Health Service, blood banks in the United States begin screening for HIV.
A travel ban is placed by the U.S. on visitors and immigrants with HIV, directed by the Reagan administration.
The ban is lifted by President Barack Obama.
National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day FAQs
Do people infected with HIV develop AIDS?
A person infected with HIV can develop AIDS within 10 to 15 years.
What helps with AIDS?
The progression of AIDS can be prevented with antiretroviral therapy, which decreases the viral load in an infected body.
Where is HIV found in the body?
HIV is found in body fluids like blood, breast milk, semen, and vaginal fluids.
How to Observe National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
Make a donation
You can donate to a foundation that supports HIV awareness. Someone may get access to treatment because of it.
Get tested
There are quick tests that can be taken to test for HIV. You can also encourage someone to take the test.
Share the holiday
You can share the holiday in person with the people around you. You can also share the holiday online.
5 Important Facts About HIV And AIDS
HIV is a virus
HIV is short for human immunodeficiency virus, which is a retrovirus.
It affects immunity
HIV infects the cells of the human immune system and destroys its functioning.
It causes immunodeficiency
The progressive depletion of the immune system leads to immunodeficiency.
HIV causes AIDS
Infection of HIV is considered to be the underlying cause of AIDS.
HIV has symptoms
Some symptoms of HIV include fever, rash, joint pains, and enlarged lymph nodes.
Why National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is Important
It saves lives
The importance of this day can’t be understated. It helps save the lives of people infected with HIV.
It prevents the spread
Awareness efforts help to prevent the spread of HIV. Forewarned is forearmed.
It debunks myths
There are many stigmas associated with HIV and it’s mainly due to misinformation. The day helps to spread factual information about HIV and debunks some myths about it.
National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | May 19 | Monday |
| 2026 | May 19 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | May 19 | Wednesday |
| 2028 | May 19 | Friday |
| 2029 | May 19 | Saturday |
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