The 9th annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day took place on February 7, and just as before, the official’s mission was to bring more information on the matter and make sure that people understand the risks and understand the security measures needed to be safe.

According to the statement released by Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, African Americans make up about 12 percent of the U.S. population and account for almost half of all the new HIV infections in the country and almost half of all the Americans living with the virus.

"To win the battle against HIV, it is crucial that African Americans -- and indeed, all Americans -- get tested for the virus during routine medical care, as the CDC and the American College of Physicians recommend," Fauci added.

Other statistics show that HIV is now the leading killer of black women with ages between 25 and 34.  It is also the second leading cause of death for black men with ages between 35 and 44.

One of the main objectives of the event is to convince people to get tested. Considering the fact that there are more than 65 million people worldwide affected by HIV or AIDS, the importance of knowing one’s status is crucial. The turnout to the events held all across the country was great, as people begin to understand the importance on knowing the facts and also the importance of these actions for their communities.