AIDS Healthcare Foundation:
“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”
AHF’s Magic Johnson ‘Testing America’ Tour, a six month, 48 state national cross country HIV testing tour, arrives in Nashville, Tennessee and will offer free HIV testing, along with local partner Street Works at events today and tomorrow. Testing will be offered at the Vogue Beauty Salon and Mary & Vanetta’s Hair Salon (2622 Jefferson Street) today from 1:00 pm until 6:00 pm and tomorrow, Thursday, at SNT Market (839 Dickerson Pike) in East Nashville from 1:00 pm until 6:00 pm. 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 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 Street Works, we plan on demonstrating just how easy HIV testing can be. At each stop along the way on this nationwide tour—including Nashville—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-DelGrasso, 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 27th—National HIV Testing Day.”
During the testing tour, AIDS Healthcare Foundation will also present $1,000 grants to each of the local partners. And throughout the course of the testing tour, HIV testing counselors will 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 interviews with people who were tested on the mobile unit. To learn how you can sign up to follow the ‘Testing America’ tour, 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: