February 7 is National HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD), which was first observed in 1999. NBHAAD is planned by the Strategic Leadership Council each year. This observance is a day to acknowledge how HIV disproportionately affects Black people. Register for this year’s Live with Leadership WebinarExit Disclaimer.

Black communities have made great progress in reducing HIV. Yet racism, discrimination, and mistrust in the health care system may affect whether Black people seek or receive HIV prevention services. These issues may also reduce the likelihood of engaging in HIV treatment and care. NBHAAD is an opportunity to increase HIV education, testing, community involvement, and treatment among Black communities.

This year’s theme is “Together…We Can Make HIV Black History!”. It will be a virtual think tank that aims to fuel strategic efforts in Black communities to end the HIV epidemic by

• Enhancing HIV awareness across social and service sectors
• Discussing HIV stigma across sectors that serve or impact Black communities, and
• Providing insight into social nuances, resources, and gaps that help or hinder community HIV testing, treatment, and prevention from community change agents.

The Office of Infectious Diseases and HIV/AIDS Policy is hosting a Live with Leadership Webinar as a follow up to last year’s NBHAAD conversation featuring:

• Harold Phillips, Director, The White House Office of National AIDS Policy
• Kaye Hayes, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Infectious Disease; Director of OIDP; and Executive Director of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA)
• Timothy Harrison, Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives and Senior Policy Advisor, OIDP
• Ashley Cason, “I am a Work of ART” Creative Partner

My Brother’s Keeper, along with the CDC, will be hosting a virtual town hall on February 7 at 3 PM ET.

For more details, visit HIV.gov.