National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2024

Wednesday, March 20, marks National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (#NNHAAD) 2024. This year’s HIV theme is “It’s All Relative, Our Experience Makes a Difference.”

“The message behind the theme reminds me of the importance of human connection and story,” said Donald Chee (Diné, also known as Navajo), the program coordinator of the National Native HIV Network, which spearheads the annual awareness day, in a press statement posted to Facebook. He adds that the message “speaks to the teaching of K’é in Diné culture that promotes respect for all people and their individual experiences.”

Search #NNHAAD on social media to find events and campaigns. A few samples are included here.

The Native HIV Network’s press statement describes the purpose of NNHAAD:

“The National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NNHAAD) serves as a national mobilization initiative aimed at encouraging American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians throughout the United States and Territorial Areas to become educated, get tested, engage in prevention, and seek treatment for HIV. Established in 2007 by three national Native capacity-building assistance organizations, NNHAAD seeks to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS within Native communities across reservations, villages and urban areas.”

HIV rates among Native people are higher than those of their white counterparts. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “in 2018, the rate (per 100,000 population) of HIV diagnoses in the United States among adult and adolescent American Indian/Alaska Native males was greater (16.2) than the rate for White males (9.6). The rate per 100,000 population among American Indian/Alaska Native females was greater (3.0) than for White females (1.7).”

This year, spring arrives March 19, a day earlier than usual. NNHAAD is marked each March 20, aligning with the beginning of the season. “This day was chosen by individuals in the [Native] community who had participated in a national survey to determine what day would be most appropriate,” states NNHAAD.org. “It was acknowledged that in many Native cultures across the United States, the four seasons are highly respected because they closely represent the cycle of life. Spring also represents a time of equality and balance and is the only day when day and night are at equal lengths. It is considered a time of profound change, new beginnings and birth; a celebration of life for all people. The cycle of life is defined by the change in seasons, and ceremonies are held to recognize the passing of one season and the beginning of another.”

For a related article, see the HIV.gov blog posts “Resources for 2024 National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day,” “A Seat at the Table: Including Tribal Voices in the HIV Response” and “Indian Health Services Launches the U=U Ambassador Program.”

And visit “2024 HIV and AIDS Awareness Days” to download a poster and learn about upcoming awareness days.

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