National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) was first observed on June 27, 1995.
This is a day to encourage people to get tested for HIV, know their status, and get linked to care and treatment.
The theme for 2022, “HIV Testing is Self-care,” is timely, given that self-care has been a particularly important topic during the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s also timely as the need for individual and community actions to promote physical and mental health remain critical.
Using this theme, partners can add a tagline to customize as they like. For example:
· HIV Testing is Self-care: Testing is key to ending the HIV epidemic.
· HIV Testing is Self-care: Taking the test is taking care of you.
· HIV Testing is Self-care: Take care of you and others too!
· HIV Testing is Self-care: Choose a test and choose to take care of you.
HIV testing is an act of self-care. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), encouraging people to get tested and know their HIV status can help them stay healthy. There are more free, easy, fast, and confidential HIV testing options available than ever before. Testing, including self-testing, is the first step to engaging in HIV prevention or treatment services. HIV testing is a critical tool to helping us end the HIV epidemic in the United States.
Currently, CDC and many other organizations are distributing free HIV self-testing kits.
