Reaching Out for Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

Published: 03-05-2021 | 2 MIN READ | Author: Prism Health North Texas

Prism Health North Texas (PHNTX) is encouraging self-care of all kinds as the organization honors Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on March 10th. This year marks the 15th observance of this national holiday, aimed at shedding light on the impact of HIV and AIDS on women and girls across the country.

“The past year has been difficult for all of us, and especially for women and girls at risk in the community,” Neacy Turner, Case Manager Supervisor said. “Many women are spending more time at home, and we want to be a resource for those dealing with everything from stress to domestic violence.”

Packages with makeup and skincare products provided by Dallas-based Mary Kay will be shared with existing patients via mail, while the open forum will be open to the public during a Zoom call on March 10th from 11 a.m. to noon. Participants will be joined by a Mary Kay representative who will share tips on physical self-care including skincare and hygiene, and by PHNTX staff who will lead a discussion on what self-care is all about, what women can expect from healthy relationships, practicing self-care while living with HIV and what each looks like during a pandemic.

“For women spending more time at home and dealing with the stressors of today’s world, it can be easy to let self-care go, whether that is skin and physical self-care, mental health self-care, or caring for your body through regular HIV and STI testing,” Turner said. “We encourage regular HIV testing year-round, and especially as we honor this day every March.”

5 ways to practice self-care every day:

  1. Journaling: Put your thoughts, dreams, and plans on paper while including things you love about yourself.
  2. Meditation: For five minutes a day, decompress and sit with your own thoughts while letting go of stress and negativity.
  3. Embrace nature: Enjoy the (mostly) beautiful Texas weather by taking a walk in the park, watching a sunset, or gazing at the stars.
  4. Gratitude: Spend a few minutes a day reflecting on what you are grateful for in order to center yourself and realign with your goals and dreams.
  5. Dance: Let go of the worries of the day and dance it out! Dance like nobody’s watching, connect with loved ones, and just remember to have fun.

Recent surveys have shown that domestic abuse around the world has spiked since the start of the pandemic, encouraging healthy relationships and providing resources for dealing with abuse more important than ever. During the event on March 10th, PHNTX Case Management staff will lead a discussion on what a healthy relationship looks like during a pandemic – and how they can help if someone is in trouble.

Tips for maintaining & building healthy relationships:

  • Maintain lines of open communication with your partner
  • Trust each other and yourself to know when a situation is not right
  • Make sure to make time for yourself and by yourself – having separate parts of your lives is key to maintaining balance
  • Keep dating – stay curious, playful, and show interest. Spend time getting to know each other even after you’ve been together a while
  • Maintain intimacy in your relationship
  • Practice teamwork and conflict resolution
  • Set healthy boundaries along the way

“During a time like this, we can’t ignore that people are really hurting,” Turner added. “They are really negatively impacted by the pandemic and we don’t want anyone in our community to feel like they have been forgotten. We are here for them, we haven’t forgotten them, and we want them to know they are appreciated.”

Prism Health North Texas headshot

Author: Prism Health North Texas

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