people to take action in the fight against HIV/AIDS and raise awareness of its impact on women and girls.  It is observed on March 10, but throughout the month organizations and health  

agencies in Georgia come together to support, encourage discussion, and teach women and girls about prevention of HIV, the importance of getting tested for HIV, and how to live with and manage HIV/AIDS. 

 

This year, the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) Office of HIV is excited to support this national observance by partnering with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  

(CDC) and other local agencies and health departments to launch a new multi-faceted social marketing campaign - "Take Charge. Take the Test." (TCTT).  This new initiative is designed to increase HIV testing among minority women by empowering them with information, encouraging them to get tested, and enabling them to take charge of their lives - whatever their HIV test result.  

 

"This partnership and campaign will help us enhance our HIV prevention and linkage to care efforts that target women at high-risk for HIV infection, especially where they live, work, and worship" explains Brandi Williams, HIV Prevention Team Lead.  "We want more and more women to look out for themselves and get tested for HIV." 

 

HIV/AIDS is a serious public health issue.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 290,000 women in the United States were living with HIV in 2011.  While men account for most HIV/AIDS cases, the impact on women and girls with HIV/AIDS is no less severe.  In 2009, CDC estimated there were 11,200 new HIV infections among women in the U.S.  That same year, women comprised 51 percent of the U.S. population and 23 percent of those newly infected with HIV.  Of the total number of new HIV infections in U.S. women in 2009, 57 percent occurred in blacks, 21 percent were in whites, and 16 percent were in Hispanic/Latinas.  Also in 2009, the rate of new HIV infections among black women was 15 times higher that of white women, and over three times the rate among Hispanic/Latina women. 

DPH is committed to the fight against HIV/AIDS among women and girls by partnering and supporting local community partners during National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.  

For more information, please visit the STD HIV webpage.  

-Story by Donato Clarke, Special Projects Coordinator, Infectious Disease and Immunizations Program, HIV, Unit, DPH