National HIV Testing Day is observed annually on June 27 with this year marking its 30th anniversary. This observance encourages individuals to get tested for HIV, understand their status and connect with crucial care and treatment services. The 2025 theme, “Level up your self-love: check your status,” highlights the importance of valuing personal health and well-being.

In coordination with the event, Maricopa County is offering free HIV and STI testing from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 25, at 1645 E. Roosevelt St., in Phoenix. No insurance or appointment is required for testing, which includes HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia. 

HIV awareness extends beyond June 25 too, with Aunt Rita’s Foundation, a community organization that fights the spread of HIV, offering free HIV and STI testing all year through Sonora Quest Labs with locations across the valley.

HIV is a virus that attacks the body's immune system, specifically targeting infection-fighting cells. Without treatment, it can weaken the immune system, making individuals vulnerable to various illnesses and potentially leading to AIDS.

While there is no cure for HIV, highly effective antiretroviral therapies allow people with HIV to live long, healthy lives. HIV is primarily spread through certain body fluids, often through unprotected sex or shared injection drug equipment. Early testing and consistent treatment are crucial for managing the virus and preventing its spread.

Beyond clinical services, officials stress the need to address HIV stigma, which can prevent individuals from seeking testing and treatment. Stigma includes harmful assumptions and discrimination in health care or community settings. These negative experiences can lead to internalized shame and isolation, making people less likely to get tested or disclose their status.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, HIV remains a significant public health issue in the U.S. Since 1981, over 700,000 American lives have been lost to HIV. More than 1.2 million Americans currently live with HIV, with an estimated 38,000 new diagnoses annually, indicating stalled progress in reducing new infections. The U.S. government spends $20 billion in annual direct health expenditures for HIV prevention and care. Factors like drug use trends, HIV-related stigma, homophobia and lack of access to prevention and care services pose a risk of HIV resurgence.

The federal Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative, launched in 2019, has set a national goal to reduce new HIV infections by 75% by 2025 and by at least 90% by 2030. The plan emphasizes four key strategies: diagnose, treat, prevent and respond. The EHE initiative focuses resources on 57 geographic areas with high HIV transmission rates, including Maricopa County. 

The CDC recommends everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once, especially those living in areas with high transmission rates. Free testing through programs like Maricopa County’s event and Aunt Rita’s Foundation allow people to understand their individual risks.

Visit auntritas.org or maricopa.gov for more information.