March 10, 2022: Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

WHEREAS, HIV/AIDS continues to be a major global and local public health issue, with approximately 38 million people across the globe living with HIV/AIDS, and it is estimated that more than half of these people (53%) are women and girls; and,

 

WHEREAS, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every week, around 5,000 young women ages 15-24 around the world acquire HIV; and,

 

WHEREAS, according to the CDC, an estimated 263,900 women and girls are living with HIV in the United States; and,

 

WHEREAS, women and girls face several challenges such as racism, discrimination, stigma, sexual violence, and intimate partner violence that place them at a greater risk for HIV infection. It is estimated that 85% of new HIV diagnoses among women can be attributed to heterosexual contact, and African American women continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV; and,

 

WHEREAS, of the 17,348 persons reported to be living with HIV in Michigan, 20% are women and girls; and,

 

WHEREAS, HIV/AIDS is now considered a manageable chronic condition rather than a fatal diagnosis, thanks to antiretroviral therapy, new laboratory and epidemiological techniques that allow identification of where HIV infections are spreading most rapidly, and improvements to health care resources that stop the further spread of new infections; and,

 

WHEREAS, despite scientific advances in HIV treatment and prevention, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and syringe service programs, progress on the prevention of HIV transmission, especially among women and girls, remains far too slow; and,

 

WHEREAS, National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is observed annually on March 10 and has served as an opportunity to shed light on the impact of HIV and AIDS on women and girls; and,

 

WHEREAS, we must continue our efforts to work toward the goal of more effectively diagnosing, treating, and caring for women and girls living with HIV and ensure all have access to HIV prevention services, testing, affordable treatment, and high-quality care and support services; we must also work to reduce HIV stigma, which can create barriers to testing, treatment, and prevention; and,

 

WHEREAS, this year's theme is "HIV Prevention Starts with Me: Women Deserve Better", and on this day, we can show solidarity with women and girls living with HIV across our state, nation, and the world and raise awareness of this major public health issue;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Gretchen Whitmer, governor of Michigan, do hereby proclaim March 10, 2022, as Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.