March 10 is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness of the increasing impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls and to encouraging women and girls to take action. This day is sponsored by the Office of Women’s Health.

According to 2004 data, women represented 26 percent of new AIDS diagnoses, compared to only 11 percent of new AIDS cases reported in 1990. To be more specific, there were 42,514 new AIDS cases reported in 2004. Of those new AIDS cases, 11,442 (27%) were in women.

Most women are infected with HIV through unprotected sex and injection drug use. Also, HIV is spread from mother to baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.

When speaking about African-American women, they are 15 times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV infection than women of other races, which makes AIDS the leading cause of death for Black women ages 25 to 34.

 The statistics are alarming, but taking some simple steps can protect women from getting HIV or prevent women from passing it to the others, including their children. Although there is no cure at the moment for AIDS, many women with HIV and AIDS are living longer and stronger lives thanks to antiretroviral drugs.

A series of events are held to raise awareness on the National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. If you’re a woman or if you love the women in your life you should not waste time and have a look over the locations where these events are held at www.womenshealth.gov.