New AIDS treatment center to open in Washington, DC

www.aidshealth.orgSep 23 2009

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the US’ largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare provider, which provides medical care and/or services to more than 100,000 individuals in 21 countries worldwide, is honored to announce the September 24^th grand opening of AHF’s first AIDS treatment center in Washington, DC, where the HIV rate is now reported to be 3%—higher than the rate in Lagos, Nigeria. The health care center, AHF’s first to be named in honor of Hollywood actor and longtime AIDS advocate Blair Underwood, will include a state-of-the-art, full-service HIV/AIDS treatment clinic as well as an on-site AHF Pharmacy. The facility will be known as the AHF Blair Underwood Clinic.

Additional B-ROLL

One of AHF’s free Magic Johnson Mobile Testing Units, which provide free HIV and STD testing at locations in the community, will be parked in front of the ‘AHF Blair Underwood Clinic’ K Street building for filming & photos opportunities in conjunction with the clinic opening.

Underwood, a popular and award-winning Hollywood actor has also been a longtime AIDS advocate, whose activism and advocacy on HIV/AIDS blossomed after he visited the hard hit country of South Africa many years ago. He is a founding member of the advocacy group, ‘Artists for a New South Africa,’ and has previously been featured in several AHF media campaigns, most notably AHF’s highly-effective “Man Up” HIV testing media campaign. Underwood will officially dedicate and tour AHF’s newest venture in the fight against AIDS—the state-of-the-art AIDS healthcare center and pharmacy serving Washington, DC named in his honor in a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony this Thursday, September 24^th at 10am. The AHF Blair Underwood Healthcare Center is located in medical building at 2141 K Street, NW, Suite 606 (between 21^st and 22^nd), Washington, DC.

“I am delighted to announce the launch of this new AHF AIDS care facility named in honor of Blair Underwood,” said Michael Weinstein, AHF President. “This healthcare center—AHF’s first in the District of Columbia—offers a tremendous opportunity to provide quality HIV/AIDS care and significant outreach to some underserved populations in Washington, and I thank Blair for lending his name and joining us in our newest effort in the fight against AIDS here in the US.”

“I have worked closely with AHF for a while now and know that they really deliver on their commitment to provide HIV care at its best,” said Blair Underwood. “I am honored to have this facility share my name, and excited about the opportunity for AHF to provide compassionate, accessible HIV/AIDS care and services to people who may have had difficulty accessing services. Many people living with HIV and AIDS in Washington need improved access to such life-saving care—it is my hope that this new clinic will help address this growing need.”

“By locating our clinic inside the District and not far from George Washington University Hospital, where we will admit some of those HIV/AIDS patients who may need hospital care, our AHF Blair Underwood Clinic will be in a unique position to better serve a high-risk, largely minority population,” said Roxanne Cox-Iyamu, MD, Medical Director for the AHF Blair Underwood Clinic. “I thank Blair for joining us in our inaugural treatment facility in Washington.”

“Since the initial stages of the epidemic, the AIDS virus has disproportionately impacted African Americans more than any other ethnic group, and this fact certainly holds true in Washington,” said Cynthia Davis, MPH, Assistant Professor, and HIV Testing Program Director Drew University HIV/Education and outreach Project, Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, California and a Board member of AHF. “On behalf of the entire AHF Board of Directors, we are honored to have the privilege to now help bring life-saving care and services to communities in need, particularly communities of color here in the District.”