Ryan White Program and IHS | HIV/AIDS

Ryan White Program and IHS | HIV/AIDS

Increasing access to stigma-free HIV-related services

March 20, the first day of spring, is National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. This year, the health observance's theme is "Resilience + Action: Ending the Epidemic for Our Native Communities." Key steps toward ending the epidemic include preventing, testing for, and treating HIV infection. Consistent access to stigma-free services can help people with HIV stay healthy and avoid spreading the virus to others. To that end, the Indian Health Service (IHS) National HIV/AIDS Program partners with communities to: educate people about HIV make HIV testing a routine part of health care improve access to care, treatment, and prevention services for people with HIV/AIDS Additionally, American Indians and Alaska Natives may be eligible to receive HIV-related services funded by the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. Patients who opt to visit a non-IHS provider for such services are not required to obtain a referral or purchase order.