The National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) has been a public voice for HIV and AIDS for 25 years. “We believe that silence and inaction are deadly. Whether newly infected or a long-time survivor, we all have something important to add to the legacy of HIV and AIDS.”   NAPWA was founded on the 1983 Denver Principles “which transformed us from victims to victors, with the same medical, personal, and social rights as others.”

NAPWA started National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) in 1995. Every year, on June 27th, local organizations across the nation engage with communities to promote early diagnosis and HIV-testing.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 250,000 of the one million people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States are unaware of their status.

NAPWA realizes that lack of access to treatment and care along with social stigma can make living with HIV difficult. With early diagnosis, uncertain individuals will know their HIV-status and should be placed in appropriate treatment and care. During NHTD, NAPWA along with thousands of community-based organizations, businesses, health departments, elected officials, media, and individuals work together to encourage routine HIV-testing and to promote culturally appropriate messages for those affected by and living with HIV/AIDS.

Texas cities, including Austin, Corpus Christie, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Plano, Port Arthur and San Antonio will be participating in National HIV Testing Day offering free HIV testing as well as various other screenings that are important for your health.  Knowledge is power, so get tested.

For specific times and events in Texas cities, go to:  www.hivtest.org/press_files/state_events/tx.htm
To see what your city is doing, go to: www.hivtest.org/press_files/events.cfm
For more information regarding NAPWA, go to www.napwa.org

Laura King