March 20 is Native HIV Awareness Day

MISSOULA - Thursday, March 20, marks the second annual Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day to acknowledge the impact of HIV/AIDS in Native communities. Missoula AIDS Council will offer free, anonymous HIV testing on Wednesday, March 19, from 9 to 4 p.m. at the Arlee Indian Senior Citizens Center and on Thursday, March 20, from 9 to 7 p.m. at the Missoula AIDS Council office at 500 North Higgins, Suite 100.

The number of HIV infections among American Indians continues to rise each year. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2005 American Indians and Alaskan Natives ranked third in rates of HIV/AIDS diagnoses after African Americans and Hispanics. The rate of AIDS diagnosis for American Indians has been higher than that for whites since 1995.

In Montana, American Indians represent approximately 7 percent of the population. American Indians also represent 7 percent of the HIV/AIDS cases in the state. "This may not be an accurate picture of HIV in Indian Country however," says Keri McWilliams, Executive Director of Missoula AIDS Council. "Most Montanan's have not been tested for HIV so we need to encourage increased testing to get a true depiction of the impact of HIV on American Indians living in Montana."

The purpose of the National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness day is to help decrease the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS and to encourage Native people to learn more about the impact of HIV/AIDS in their communities.

For more information about HIV testing call Missoula AIDS Council at 406-543-4770.