Rockin the Red!

Today is Saturday, March 10, 2012 and I am rockin' the red pumps espadrilles! 

(My pumps are not too comfortable.)

You may be saying "OK?" and giving the blank stare.  Well, it's all good but I say I am rocking the red because it is...

National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD)

and I'm supporting the Red Pump Project!

The Red Pump Project™ raises awareness about the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls. Our mission is to promote HIV prevention through education, and open dialogue about the issues that surround sexual and reproductive health. They do work online and on the ground to motivate action and encourage dialogue about the effects of the disease.  The whole purpose is to get us to talk about it...so let's chat...

Did you know...

Every 47 minutes, a woman tests positive for HIV in the United States?

Isn't that a shocking statistic?  Well, here are some more unsettling stats:

HIV/AIDS in the United States:

• Every 9.5 minutes, someone in the US will be infected with HIV.
• There are more than 1 million adults and adolescents in the United States living with HIV. Approximately one-fifth of them (21%) do not know that they have been infected.

Women and HIV/AIDS:

• In 2006, women made up 25% of the persons living with HIV in the United States. Women also represented 27% of new HIV infections in 2006.
• High-risk heterosexual contact is the source of 80% of these newly diagnosed infections in women in the US.
• From the beginning of the epidemic through 2005, almost 86,000 women have died of AIDS and AIDS-related complications.
• The largest number of HIV/AIDS diagnoses during recent years was for women aged 15–39.
• Seven of the 10 states with the highest case rates among women are in the South.

Minority Women and HIV/AIDS:

• HIV/AIDS disproportionately affects minority women in the United States. According to the 2005 census, Black and Latina women represent 24% of all US women combined, but accounted for 82% of the estimated total of AIDS diagnoses for women in 2005.
• HIV is the leading cause of death for Black women (including Black women) aged 25–34 years. The only diseases causing more deaths of women are cancer and heart disease.
• The rate of AIDS diagnosis for Black women was approximately 23 times the rate for white women and 4 times the rate for Latina women.
• In 2006, teen girls represented 39% of AIDS cases reported among 13–19 year-olds. Black teens represented 69% of cases reported among 13–19 year-olds; Latino teens represented 19%.

Youth and HIV/AIDS:

• In 2006, the CDC estimates that almost 46,000 young people, ages 13-24, were living with HIV in the US. Women comprised 28% of these HIV/AIDS cases among 13-24 year-olds.
• African-American young adults are disproportionately affected by HIV, accounting for 60% of HIV/AIDS diagnoses in 13-24 year olds in 2006.

These statistics were from The Center for Disease Control’s website and the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Fact Sheets (which cited the CDC). You can get more information about the effect of the epidemic from these sites.

That's more than enough to take in, right?

My fellow fashion friends, do you know your status?  If not...no judgement but it is critical that you find out as soon as humanly possible.  HIV/AIDS is not a death sentence but you have to know if you are infected to get the necessary treatment to have a longer life.

I ask that if you are reading this, please ask yourself if you are living a life that puts you at risk for HIV/AIDS.  Please please please be honest with yourself.  If the answer is yes, then again, no judgement but I encourage you to get tested. 

I know this is some heavy stuff and I try to keep things light around here but sometimes you just have to talk about it, even when you don't wanna. Thanks for chatting with me!  I love you more for it!!!

Blouse: Ashley Stewart   Red Espadrilles: Target  Skinnies, Straw Bag & Jacket: Thrifted

Thanks for stopping by.

Stay safe, stay fly and stay tuned!

 

I'm Mingling over at Mom Trends!

&

Doing some Mad Partying with Priiincess!