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April 10 marks the annual observance of National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in the U.S., and we share the following facts about HIV/AIDS among our youth:
- At the end of 2016, in the 50 states and District of Columbia, of an estimated 50,900 youth aged 13-24 who had HIV, only 56% knew they had the virus.
- In 2017, Georgia ranked 5th nationally in new diagnoses of HIV infection (2,595). It is estimated that slightly more than 2 in every 5 new diagnoses of HIV infection occurred in youth and young adults 13-29 years of age in Georgia.
- In DeKalb County in 2017, the estimated numbers of young persons living with HIV/AIDS ranged from 60 among youth aged 19 years and younger, to 1,226 among those aged 20-29 years.
It is essential that HIV-negative youth know the behaviors that put them at risk for acquiring HIV infection and the effective strategies for HIV prevention. New strides in HIV treatment to help HIV-positive persons live longer, more healthy lives can only be useful if they know they are infected. CDC recommends that individuals between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care and those with risk factors get tested more frequently.
Heavenly Father, we ask you to send your Spirit to our young people so that they may flourish. Fill their journey with your abundant grace and blessings. May the IHM community provide them the necessary support and encouragement to live healthy lives. We ask this in the name of Jesus your Son. Amen.