Only when we acknowledge the epidemic can we overcome it.
One of the major causes of the epidemic in the United States is that so many people who are already infected with HIV don't know it. And because their HIV status is not known, they may spread the virus unintentionally.
The best way for people to find out whether they have the infection is through routine testing, just like routine examinations for breast cancer, prostate cancer or other very personal but very dangerous conditions. Unlike those conditions, though, people often don't get tested for HIV because they're too embarrassed to bring up the subject with their doctor or health care provider, let alone family and friends.
NHAP makes a difference by bringing the topic of HIV/AIDS into our national dialogue. If we can talk about it, we can deal with it. NHAP gets that conversation going.