AHF’s Magic Johnson ‘Testing America’ Tour arrives in Atlanta to host free HIV testing events

AIDS Healthcare Foundation:

“After six months on the road, our ‘Testing America’ tour culminates with a major testing event in New York City on Sunday, June 27th—National HIV Testing Day.”

AHF/Magic Johnson Mobile Unit – Atlanta Testing Schedule

Friday, February 26^th
10:00 am to 5:00 pm
For Spelman & Morehouse Colleges/Clark Atlanta University
LLC Auditorium
Off Henry and West View

Saturday, February 27^th
11:00 pm to 2:00 am
Traxx Nightclub
at Columbia and Leeland

AHF’s Magic Johnson ‘Testing America’ Tour, a six month, 48 state national cross country HIV testing tour, will arrive in Atlanta to host free HIV testing events over two days, Friday, February 26^th and Saturday, February 27^th. Continuing its tour of historically black colleges—coinciding with Black History Month—the AHF/Magic Johnson mobile testing unit will be serving the communities of Spelman and Morehouse Colleges, as well as Clark Atlanta University by offering free testing at the LLC Auditorium off Henry and West View from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on Friday, February 26^th. On Saturday night, February 27^th AHF will partner with respected local agency AID Atlanta to offer free HIV testing at Traxx Nightclub at Columbia and Leeland in Decatur from 11:00 pm to 2:00 am.

The testing will take place on AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF’s) new, state-of-the-art ‘Testing America’ mobile HIV testing unit named in honor of and in partnership with basketball legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson, Jr. The mobile unit will be available for filming and tours at the press conference.

The AHF/Magic Johnson ‘Testing America’ tour is part of a collaborative effort to raise local and national awareness about the importance—and ease—of HIV testing and to challenge attitudes about moving toward a streamlined model of HIV testing and counseling nationwide. AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is proud to continue its second HIV Testing Tour across the US after the successful completion of its recent and ambitious 14 city AHF Magic Johnson HIV Testing Caravan in mid-2009.

“Working with respected local partners including AID Atlanta, we plan on demonstrating just how easy HIV testing can be. At each stop along the way on this nationwide tour—including Atlanta—we will host or participate in free mobile HIV testing events and media events to raise awareness about the importance of testing,” said Azul Mares-Del Grasso, Field Services Manager, National HIV Testing Tour, AHF’s Public Health Division. “After six months on the road, our ‘Testing America’ tour culminates with a major testing event in New York City on Sunday, June 27^th—National HIV Testing Day.”

During the testing tour, AIDS Healthcare Foundation will also present $1,000 grants to each of the local partners AHF is collaborating with along the way. And throughout the course of the cross country HIV testing tour, HIV testing counselors will also supply a steady stream of updates, videos and images via new media: YouTube, Facebook and Twitter postings from along the route, interviews with local partners, government officials and, when appropriate and available, interviews with people who were tested on the mobile unit. To learn how you can sign up to follow the ‘Testing America’ tour on these social media outlets, please visit www.freehivtest.net.

HIV Statistics in the United States

In 2006, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) began recommending routine HIV testing for all people ages 13-64, a recommendation that has not been widely implemented nationwide to date. According to an HIV/AIDS Policy Fact Sheet produced by the Kaiser Family Foundation (“The HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the United States”, updated, September, 2009, with statistics through 2007), the CDC reports that:

• There are approximately 1.1 million people currently living with HIV/AIDS in the United States, more than 468,000 of whom are living with an AIDS-defining illness.
• Among the 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS, an estimated 21% do not know they are infected (down from 25% in 2003).
• Many people with HIV are diagnosed late in their illness; in 2006, 36% received an AIDS diagnosis within one year of testing HIV positive.

“It is crucial that people know their HIV status and learn how to avoid becoming infected with HIV; or if they are infected, know their status, and seek medical treatment, if needed,” said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “AIDS Healthcare Foundation is proud to spearhead this national AHF/Magic Johnson Testing America tour as a collaborative effort to raise awareness—and reduce stigma—around HIV testing.”

GEORGIA HIV/AIDS statistics

(CDC statistics through 2007, via Kaiser Family Foundation State Health Facts)

• Cumulative AIDS Cases in GEORGIA: 3.3% of US total (33,847 AIDS cases through 2007, per CDC)
• AIDS Case Rate per 100,000 population in GEORGIA: 19.7 (for the US, the rate is 12.5) (per CDC 2007)
• Estimated number of people living with AIDS in GEORGIA, all ages, 2007—18,011 (3.8% of US total)
• Cumulative HIV infection cases reported in GEORGIA: 11,257 (3.3% of the 337,590 officially reported US HIV infections—via confidential name-based reporting— through 2007, per CDC)