National Youth HIV/AIDs Awareness Day, observed annually on April 10^th, calls on the public to recognize the growing impact of HIV and AIDs on young people and promote greater access to sexual health education, disease prevention, and treatment. The CDC estimates that in 2021, adolescents and young adults under the age of 24 accounted for 19% of new HIV diagnoses in the United States. However, youth are among the least likely of all age groups to access HIV treatment and preventative care, including antiretroviral medications and PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis).

Without appropriate and timely treatment, young people living with HIV are less likely to suppress their viral load, which refers to the amount of HIV in the blood. When a person’s viral load is not suppressed, the virus can replicate and spread throughout the body, increasing the risk of transmission to others. This can result in higher rates of HIV transmission among individuals who are unaware of their HIV status or are not taking preventative measures, such as using condoms or getting screened regularly for sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

To break down the barriers to HIV prevention and treatment among young people, the National Youth HIV/AIDs Awareness Day Collective (NYHAAD), an organization of youth activists advocating for improved access to HIV preventative care and treatment in their communities, has released the following series of demands for their 2025 campaign:

• Increasing empathy and reducing stigma about HIV and its impact on young people on campus and in communities
• Affirming policies around HIV care, treatment, and prevention on campus and in communities
• Decriminalizing HIV
• Accessing HIV services, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), on-campus and in communities without parental consent
• Updating sex education curricula, which includes medically accurate information about HIV

To learn more, Whittier Street Health Center invites you to attend our annual National Youth HIV/AIDs Awareness Day event on April 10^th. This free community event, hosted by our Infectious Disease and Special Populations team, will provide valuable information and resources to young people living with or at risk of HIV regarding sexual health, STI testing, HIV prevention, and treatment options. By coming together as a community, we aim to reduce the stigma surrounding HIV diagnosis and empower young people with the education and tools they need to lead healthy, fulfilling, and empowered lives.

Graphic Design by @Devin Williams

Whittier Street Health Center recognizes National Youth HIV/AIDs Awareness Day in our efforts to promote health information and treatment for young people living with or at risk of HIV infection. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that nearly half of young people living with HIV are unaware of their status. By expanding access to comprehensive sexual health education, screenings for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and lifesaving anti-retroviral drugs such as PrEP and PEP, we can work to reduce the rate of new HIV infections and empower young people to take charge of their health without shame or judgment.

On April 10^th, our Infectious Diseases and Special Populations Department will host a community event to promote HIV prevention, education, and treatment geared toward youth and young adults.

#NYHAAD #HIVAIDsAwareness #YouthHealth #EndHIV #WhittierStreetHealthCenter