National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day events set for today
By Alastair Lee Bitsoi
Navajo Times
WINDOW ROCK, March 20, 2014
With the theme, "Honor our ancestors. Protect our people. Take the Test," there are four public education outreach efforts at Kayenta on March 19, Teec Nos Pos, Ariz. today, Winslow on Friday and Gallup on Saturday.
At these events, the public can take a free HIV screening test and also receive free HIV/AIDS education.
According to the Centers of Disease and Control Prevention, 1 in 5 people who are affected with HIV don't know it. For the Native American/Alaskan Native population, the rates of contracting HIV/AIDS is high, with this population ranking third in HIV/AIDS diagnosis.
The events organized by the Navajo Health Education Program in conjunction with the National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day are also a time to remember those who lost their lives as a result of AIDS. It is also an effort to reignite the commitment to stop the spread of the disease among Native people, according to the NHEP.
In Teec Nos Pos, the event begins from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m at the Tiis Naz Bas Community School Gym. Melvin Harrison, of the Navajo AIDS Network, is the guest speaker. Contact information is 505-368-6350.
Over at Winslow, the event is located on the main front lawn of the Winslow Indian Health Care Center. It also begins from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, contact the Navajo Nation HIV Prevention Program in Dilkon, Ariz., at 928-657-8019 or Navajo Health Education Program-Winslow at 928-289-6142.
On Saturday at the Rio West Mall in Gallup, the event begins from 12 p.m to 5 p.m.
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