NBJC

Since 2013, April 10th has been recognized as National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD) . NBJC joins youth leaders and activists, advocates, families and communities across our nation on this day with the intention of educating the broader public about the unique impact of HIV/AIDS on young people, especially youth of color. Young people today are the first generation to have never known a world without HIV/AIDS, but continue to be disproportionately infected and affected by the preventable disease. The United States is leading the world with tools to prevent and treat HIV, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP),  and  antiretroviral therapy (ART) . However, the lack of comprehensive, LGBTQ-inclusive sexual health education in American schools–combined with the detrimental impact of stigma, racism, poverty and other negative societal realities–place our young people at increased risk to be diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

 

The facts are staggering when it comes to HIV/AIDS and America's youth:

 

There is an urgent need for action within the collective Black family to stand up and declare the continuous spread of HIV/AIDS in our communities as unacceptable, especially the impact it continues to have on our Black youth. We have the tools to end the epidemic, but all we need is everyone in our families and communities to be a part of the solution #AllWeNeedIsYOU.