Illinois HIV Care Connect supports efforts to bring awareness to the issues related to HIV and aging in Illinois. Through National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (NHAAD), our organization is committed to putting an end to HIV/AIDS related stigma, discrimination, and misinformation about prevention care and treatment for those over 50.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that persons aged 50 and older account for about:
- 17% of new HIV diagnoses
- 47% of persons with HIV
- 71% of all deaths of persons diagnosed HIV infection
Of those individuals who were diagnosed with HIV at age 50 or older, 40 percent were 50-54 years of age.
Specific programs must be developed and implemented for the aging population who need to be informed about the transmission and prevention of HIV.
National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day, launched in 2008 by The AIDS Institute, is recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, and hiv.gov. The campaign highlights the complex issues related to HIV prevention, care, and treatment for aging populations in the United States. The goal of the campaign is to emphasize the need for prevention, research, and data targeting the older population, medical understanding of the aging process and its impact on HIV/AIDS.
For more information on NHAAD, please visit The AIDS Institute at NHAAD.org, or call 813-258-5929 ext 4.