National HIV Testing Day: An Important Part of Self-care
Monday, June 27, is National HIV Testing Day (NHTD), a day to emphasize and encourage HIV testing; this year’s theme is “HIV Testing is Self-care.” The topic of self-care has been prominent during the COVID-19 pandemic, with increased need for individual and community actions to protect and promote physical and mental health. Getting tested for HIV to know your HIV status is an important step in living your healthiest life.
It’s never been easier to get tested. HIV testing can be free, easy, fast, and confidential, and self-tests can be done whenever and wherever a person chooses. Amida Care encourages everyone to know their HIV status in order to keep New Yorkers healthy and to help end the HIV epidemic.
For those who test negative, PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), a pill that is over 90% effective in preventing HIV, may be a good choice for taking control of your sexual health. For those who test positive for HIV, there are anti-retroviral medications (ART) that can reduce the virus to undetectable levels, ensuring that it cannot be transmitted (Undetectable equals Untransmittable, U=U).
The Slay campaign from HIVStopswithMe.org features New Yorkers who are undetectable, enabling them to live their best lives. Spokesmodels for the campaign include Lailani Muniz, Amida Care member and HIV/trans right activist; Victwan McCorkle, Amida Care member turned Peer Program Supervisor, and Jeffrey Feliz-Ybes, Amida Care member and Community Health Outreach Worker.
Watch their videos:
https://hivstopswithme.org/spokesmodels/lailani/