Each year, on June 27, the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA), with support from CDC, AIDS.gov, CDC's National Prevention Information Network (CDC NPIN), and other partners, leads the commemoration of National HIV Testing Day (NHTD). This special edition of Connections is dedicated to NHTD. The theme of this annual observance is "Take the Test, Take Control," which sends a powerful message about learning one's HIV status. More than 200,000 Americans infected with HIV do not even know they are infected, maintaining the urgency to take action on the national, state, local, and individual levels. HIV is a serious, infectious, and deadly disease, and knowing one's status is a critical step to protecting one's own health and that of others.

Mayors Campaign Against HIV

A key activity each year for the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) is the Mayors Campaign Against HIV, in its sixth year. Approximately 200 mayors have been asked to support National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) by hosting HIV testing campaigns in their cities, conducting press conferences to discuss local HIV testing resources, or issuing proclamations in support of NHTD. NAPWA not only partners with mayors throughout the United States, but also collaborates with Congressional lawmakers. For the fourth time, NAPWA and U.S. Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) will host a press conference on U.S. Capitol grounds to focus attention on the HIV epidemic and the need for those at risk for HIV to get tested. Moreover, to ensure communities have the resources to mount an effective HIV testing campaign, NAPWA makes available promotional materials to local health departments, community clinics, and other community-based organizations that participate in NHTD. NAPWA also will host a comprehensive Skills Building Institute to share successful promotional techniques for NHTD events. For more information, go to www.napwa.org.

June 3
Twitter Town Hall
From 3 to 4:30 p.m. EDT
Use the hashtag #NHTD
to join the conversation

June 22
AIDS.gov Webinar

June 25
NHTD Press Conference
11 a.m. EDT, Capitol Hill

AIDS.gov Event Planning Guide

We invite you to participate in CDC's first-ever Twitter Town Hall with prevention partners on Thursday, June 3, 3–4:30 p.m. EDT. CDC is hosting the event through CDC NPIN, with NAPWA tweeting about testing day big ideas followed by AIDS.gov tweeting about social media. NCHHSTP Director Dr. Kevin Fenton and Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention (DHAP) Director Dr. Jonathan Mermin will tweet early in the program, with a special message from CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden. AIDS.gov also invites federal staff and grantees working with domestic HIV/AIDS programs to a webinar on The Current and Future State of HIV Testing in the United States, on Tuesday, June 22, 3–4 p.m. EDT. Speakers include Dr. Howard Koh, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Health; Dr. Fenton; and Dr. Bernard Branson, Associate Director for Laboratory Diagnostics, DHAP. Senior officials from other federal agencies will provide their perspectives on HIV testing. Please register by June 18.