AIDS Day: Successful Global HIV Testing Campaign to Test 1M People Marches On

This is something I found out about last month when I was being tested by Angelica (who by the way was AMAZING and a hottie) at one of the mobile HIV Testing Stations in WeHo, and tho I didn't make it out to be tested today, I am glad that this movement is so successful.

Enthusiastic Response Greets Worldwide HIV Testing Campaign Led By AHF; 1,000 Organizations in 72 Countries Team Together to Test One Million People Worldwide November 26th - December 1st for Week of World AIDS Day

By: AIDS Healthcare Foundation ( http://www.aidshealth.org/ )

Los Angeles - December 1, 2008

As part of its global World AIDS Day effort to test one million people for HIV, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest AIDS group in the US which currently provides medical care and services in 22 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia, spearheaded the One Million Tests campaign. The campaign, which has been organized by AHF in coalition with over 1,000 global partners from 72 countries around the world, mobilized non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local and national governments, international relief agencies, faith-based organizations and civil society to participate. The goal: a worldwide commitment to provide a total of ONE MILLION Free HIV Tests during an extended World AIDS Day week from November 26th through December 1st-World AIDS Day.

“Our 'One Million Tests' campaign has been met with a wildly enthusiastic response in all corners of the world,” said Terri Ford, Director of Global Advocacy for AHF and Coordinator of the 'One Million Tests' campaign, in a statement from Africa where she is overseeing AHF's own 'One Million Tests' World AIDS Day testing efforts in South Africa and Uganda. “The collaboration and participation of so many partner organizations-NGOs, health ministries, government bodies, faith-based groups and others-has been inspiring, but I am truly heartened and humbled by those individuals who are seeking out the testing services that we and the more than thousand partner organizations are providing this week.”

“Testing, and linkage to care and treatment, when needed, are crucial linchpins in helping us break the chain of HIV infection,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “Not only does antiretroviral treatment save the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS, it also helps prevent further transmission of the virus. It is our belief that the successes of our 'One Million Tests' campaign clearly show how we can overcome roadblocks in the fight against HIV/AIDS-be they logistics, bureaucracy, stigma or indifference-by working together to develop easily accessible HIV testing models and improved access to lifesaving antiretroviral treatment worldwide.”

Read the entire arcticle here... http://www.aidshealth.org/news/press-releases/aids-day-successful-global.html