Spring to It! Developing Messages for National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2019

National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NNHAAD) is an annual opportunity for the HIV community to educate the public about the impact of HIV among Native communities, encourage HIV testing and status awareness, and speak out against stigma associated with HIV. NNHAAD is always observed on the first day of spring, with the 2019 observance slated for March 20th.

Since the first observance of NNHAAD in 2007, the HIV community has increasingly relied on social media for related communications. As we approach NNHAAD 2019, HIV.gov points you to resources for your Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram presence, or even for your traditional communications.

Get the Facts

You can find fact sheets for this observance, the NNHAAD logo, and more resources on HIV.gov‘s NNHAAD page. We will continue to curate resources from across the U.S. government to support the messages of this observance.

In our HIV Basics section, you will find clear and important facts about HIV prevention, risk, treatment, and care. There you can find content “nuggets” and images you can drop into your social media messages.

Encourage HIV Testing

HIV.gov offers these resources to help you connect people to HIV testing sites and other services:

• Enter a ZIP code in the HIV Testing Sites & Care Services Locator to find nearby services.
• The Locator widget is available to add to your website. Our brief videoExit Disclaimer describes the three steps you’ll need to take to add the widget.

Learn about the Federal Response to HIV

The Indian Health Service (IHS) works to “assure that comprehensive, culturally acceptable personal and public health services are available and accessible to American Indian and Alaska Native people.” Within this mission, the IHS HIV/AIDS Program aims to “prevent further spread of HIV and improve health outcomes for those already living with HIV and AIDS.”

HIV.gov regularly highlights IHS’s work on our blog and complements this coverage with the Federal Response section of our website, where we present the HIV-related work of IHS and other federal agencies.

Have you been following the news about the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America initiative? HIV.gov posted a new webpage when the Plan was announced. IHS is a key federal partner in this effort. We encourage you to review what IHS Principal Deputy Director, RADM Michael D. Weahkee, has said about the Plan and about addressing HIV in Indian Country.

Talk It Up

Along with using the hashtag #NNHAADExit Disclaimer, you can join the conversation by following these handles:

• Facebook: Indian Health ServiceExit Disclaimer, HIVgovExit Disclaimer, Act Against AIDSExit Disclaimer, CDC HIVExit Disclaimer, and Start Talking Stop HIVExit Disclaimer
• Twitter: @IHSgovExit Disclaimer, @MWeahkeeExit Disclaimer, @HIVGovExit Disclaimer, @CDC_HIV/AIDSExit Disclaimer, @DrMerminCDCExit Disclaimer, and @DrDeanCDCExit Disclaimer
• Instagram: @HIVgovExit Disclaimer, and @actagainstaidsExit Disclaimer

For more about the NNHAAD observance and other HIV-related Awareness Days, please sign up for our emails.