June 25, 2009
AIDS Alliance Recognizes National HIV Testing Day
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Washington, D.C.- In recognition of National HIV Testing Day on June 27, 2009, AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families emphasizes the importance of knowing one's HIV status and encourages at-risk individuals to receive an HIV test. AIDS Alliance will join members of Congress along with other health care advocates at the National HIV Testing Day press conference, sponsored by the National Association for People with AIDS (NAPWA), on Thursday, June 25, 2009 on the West Lawn Capitol Triangle of the United States Capitol Building.
HIV/AIDS is increasingly impacting the lives of thousands of women, children and youth. Individuals ages 13-29 had the HIV highest incidence in 2006.[i] The African American and Latino communities are hit especially hard. African American women account for 61 percent, and Latinas for16 percent of the new HIV infections.[ii] According to the most recent HIV/AIDS prevalence rates released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 21 percent -a total of 232,700 people living with HIV in the United States- are unaware of their status.[iii]
"AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families is committed to having a world without AIDS. One way we contribute is through our programs that work with local communities to reduce the incidence of HIV, specifically within higher risk populations, such as Latino and African American women and youth" said Carole Treston, Executive Director. "AIDS Alliance supports expanded access to testing and the provision of high quality comprehensive follow-up care along with creating an environment where learning of one's HIV status is free from stigma."
AIDS Alliance encourages participation in awareness efforts which allows for early treatment and HIV prevention. As a part of this pledge, AIDS Alliance, along with other partners of the NIAID HIV Vaccine Research Education Initiative (NHVREI), encourages women and youth of all races and ages to educate themselves about the importance of HIV vaccine research and encourages participation in clinical trials by people of all races and ethnicities, genders and socioeconomic backgrounds. Participation by the populations most highly affected is critical to the success of the endeavor. (For more information visit: www.bethegeneration.org).
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Founded in 1994, AACYF is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to advance the partnership between consumers and providers – we are the voice of women, children, youth and families living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. AACYF works to enhance and expand access to quality, comprehensive, family-centered care to America's children, youth and families affected by HIV/AIDS, as it represents the nation's network of over 650 Ryan White Part D funded community-based organizations. Part D programs serve over 53,000 HIV-affected women, children, youth and families through sites located in 35 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
[i] http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/slides/incidence/slides/HIV-Incidence.ppt#263,7,Slide 7
[ii] http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/topics/surveillance/resources/slides/incidence/slides/HIV-Incidence.ppt#263,7,Slide 8
[iii] http://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/prevalence.pdf
