February 7 is Black HIV and AIDS Awareness Day. A day set aside to recognize the impact that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has on Black and African Americans. African Americans have a harder time getting HIV testing, prevention and care. Issues such as racism, discrimination and poverty may affect whether Black people seek or receive help. 
HIV is a sexually transmitted disease that targets the immune system. If HIV is not treated right away, it can turn into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

The virus spreads in different ways, including:

• Unsafe sex
• Sharing needles
• Blood contact
• From mother to child
  
  

Although there isn’t a cure for HIV at this time, there is effective treatment that can help you live a long and healthy life. The treatment for HIV is antiretroviral therapy (ART). ART requires you to take different types of prescription medicine. ART reduces a person’s viral load to an undetectable level. At that point, they cannot transmit the virus to their partner.

There are ways to protect yourself against HIV, including:

• Practice safe sex
• Not sharing needles
• PrEP is also a highly effective option to prevent HIV when taken as prescribed. Talk to your doctor for more information on PrEP

The only way to know if you have HIV is to get tested. Talk to your doctor to get tested for HIV.