Thursday marks the second annual National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

This effort is designed to encourage people to become educated about HIV/AIDS, get tested and to get involved in prevention efforts in their local communities.

Native Americans in the U.S. suffer high rates of health disparities, and HIV/AIDS is no exception. In South Dakota, Natives comprise only 9 percent of the state's population but have accounted for 16 percent of HIV/AIDS cases since the beginning of the epidemic and for 25 percent of new infections since 2001.

Special events are being held March 20 on and off reservations throughout South Dakota.

For more information on the National Native HIV/AIDS Awareness Day go to the Web site of the Center for Applied Studies in American Ethnicity at Colorado State University, www.happ.colostate.edu. Information about South Dakota events is available by calling the Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairmen's Health Board at 605-721-1922 Ext. 143.