Tell Congress to support a national HIV/AIDS strategy

Dear Friend,

Here's a staggering truth: HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among young black women -- 25 to 34 years old -- in the United States.

But here's something we can do to change that.

Today is National Women and Girl's HIV Awareness Day -- a day when we can use our collective voice to ask that HIV-positive women and children living in the United States receive the medical care they need to combat their disease.

You can help. Surprisingly, there is no national plan in place to combat HIV/AIDS in this country -- and new HIV infections are on the rise. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable, with approximately one in four new HIV/AIDS diagnoses occurring in women.

Now is the time to act. Tell Congress to support a national HIV/AIDS strategy.

For young women like Christina Pena from California, nothing could be more important. Christina contracted HIV from her mother at birth - just like 95 percent of all children in the U.S. who have HIV do. Fortunately, thanks to lifesaving medications, Christina is able to keep HIV at bay and is now a healthy young adult.

More must be done to prevent HIV infection and ensure HIV-positive girls, like Christina, grow up to become healthy, vibrant women.

That's where you come in. Urge your representative to support important legislation to build a national HIV/AIDS strategy.

If swift action isn't taken soon, the consequences could be tragic. Millions more women, children, and families could suffer needlessly from HIV/AIDS.

On this National Women and Girl's HIV Awareness Day, commit to helping those living with HIV/AIDS fight back against this deadly disease. Stopping this pandemic won't happen overnight, but with your voice behind those on Capitol Hill seeking such change, we have the power to better help prevent and treat HIV/AIDS in women and children.

Help us lead the way toward a generation free of HIV and make a difference in the lives of thousands of women and children. Please send a message to Congress today.

Thanks for your support,

Elizabeth Penniman
Vice President for Public Policy and Communications
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation

P.S. Thanks to your efforts last month, President Obama lifted restrictions on embryonic stem cell research yesterday, which will allow this important research to move forward. Check out our advocacy action center and send a thank you to the President!