World AIDS Day: What you can do

Consumer Reports News: December 01, 2009 12:29 PM

In the U.S., there are more than one million people living with HIV, 1 in 5 of which is unaware of their infection. Every nine-and-a-half minutes, another person in the U.S. becomes infected with HIV, accounting for 56,300 new infections each year. And more than 14,000 people with AIDS still die each year in the U.S. Though great strides have been made in getting care and treatment to millions of people worldwide living with the infection, these are still grim statistics and there's much more that should be done. More research and education is needed to help cut down on the number of new cases, prevent the spread, and increase access to treatment, particularly among groups disproportionately affected by HIV—African Americans, Hispanics, and gay and bisexual men.

Today, on World AIDS Day, you can do your part to help raise awareness and prevent the spread of AIDS:

Know your risk and how HIV is transmitted and spread.
Take action to protect yourself and your partner(s) by correct and consistent use of condoms and not sharing needles.
Get tested at your doctor's office or at testing sites. For a testing site near you, call 1-800-CDC-INFO or visit www.hivtest.org.
Learn the facts and dispel HIV myths.
Talk about HIV to family and friends to reduce the stigma that prevent many people from seeking testing, prevention, treatment, and support.
Get involved in your community to help prevent HIV and help those in need of services.
Learn how to stay healthy (if you're living with HIV)
Become familiar with the latest recommendations and guidelines on HIV counseling, testing, treatment, and many other issues (if you're a healthcare provider)
Wear a red ribbon as a symbol of your support for everyone affected by HIV.

—Ginger Skinner

Find out more ways you can help raise AIDS awareness, see how AIDS is affecting people over 50, and find out which treatments (subscribers only) are proven to help manage the infection. And for more on safe sex, take a look at our recent condoms report and Ratings (subscribers only).

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World AIDS Day: What you can do

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