The AIM - To Test 1 Million People For HIV Between 26th November And 1st December, 2008

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 27 Nov 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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As part of a groundbreaking global 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 to more than 86,000 individuals in 22 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia, is spearheading and coordinating the 'One Million Tests World AIDS Day 2008' campaign. The campaign, which has been organized by AHF in coalition with close to 1,000 global partners from 72 countries around the world, is mobilizing 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 conduct a total of ONE MILLION Free HIV Tests during an extended World AIDS Day week commencing on November 26th and culminating on December 1st-World AIDS Day.

What:

'One Million Tests' World AIDS Day 2008 campaign

Free HIV Testing in 72 Countries Around the Globe

- Media can contact AHF Communications contacts listed to get contact information for specific worldwide 'One Million Tests World AIDS Day 2008' campaign even

When:

November 26th-December 1st

Where:

Countries taking part in the 'One Million Tests' campaign Include:

Asia-Armenia, Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Lebanon, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Viet Nam,

Africa-Uganda, South Africa, Swaziland, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone

Europe (Western)-Austria, England, France, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain

Europe (Eastern)-Hungary, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine

Latin America-Mexico, Dominican Republic, Argentina, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guyana, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, The Cayman Islands, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela

North America & the Caribbean-US, Canada, Anguilla, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Turks & Caicos, Trinidad, St. Vincent, Virgin Islands

Australia-Australia, Fiji, The Solomon Islands

Who:

Spearheaded by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)

"The 'One Million Tests' campaign is using innovative testing strategies for streamlined and large scale HIV testing-embracing a variety of rapid testing modalities, group pre-test counseling models, and easy antiretroviral treatment referrals whenever possible," 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. "Not only does antiretroviral treatment save the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS, it also helps prevent further transmission of the virus. Our growing list of global collaborators in this campaign has also help us forge an enthusiastic new testing coalition with a united voice to advocate for easily accessible HIV testing as well as for improved access to lifesaving antiretroviral treatment worldwide."

There are currently 33 million people worldwide thought to be living with HIV/AIDS. Of these, only about three million people in the developing world have access to lifesaving antiretroviral AIDS medications. The vast majority the 33 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide have never been tested for the virus. The 'One Million Tests' seeks to demonstrate that widespread scale up of testing-with linkage to treatment, when needed--can be accomplished with global partners working together.

Additional information is available at http://www.onemilliontests.org and http://www.aidshealth.org

AIDS Healthcare Foundation

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