AIDS Awareness Month is a key opportunity to raise awareness, commemorate those who have passed on, and celebrate victories such as increased access to treatment and prevention services.

According to AIDS.gov, more than one million Americans are living with HIV, but one in five of them are not aware they are infected. While the total number of people with HIV in the United States has increased recently, the annual number of new infections has remained relatively stable.

AIDS Awareness Month is important because it reminds us that HIV has not gone away – every 9.5 minutes someone in the U.S. is infected. There is still a vital need to raise money, increase awareness, fight prejudice and improve education. It also serves as a prime opportunity to remind people of how important it is to get tested and to know your results.

Not having sex is the best way to prevent getting or transmitting HIV. If you’re sexually active, here are several highly effective actions you can take to reduce your risk of getting HIV, and the more of these actions you take, the safer you can be:

Choose less risky sexual behaviors. Use condoms consistently and correctly. Reduce the number of people you have sex with. Talk to your doctor about pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

For more information visit https://www.aids.gov/