AHF’s Magic Johnson ‘Testing America’ Tour arrives in Columbia, South Carolina to host free HIV testing events

Mar 3 2010

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 Columbia, South Carolina to host free HIV testing events, along with local partner South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council, today and tomorrow, March 3^rd and 4^th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. All are welcome to attend.

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, we plan on demonstrating just how easy HIV testing can be. At each stop along the way on this nationwide tour—including Columbia—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.”

According to an HIV/AIDS Policy Fact Sheet produced by the Kaiser Family Foundation, (“Black Americans and HIV/AIDS”, updated, September 2009, with statistics through 2007), African-Americans make up 12% of the population in the United States, but account for more than 45% of new HIV infections and account for 46% of people currently living with HIV. In addition, AIDS is also now the leading cause of death for Black women ages 25 to 34, and the second leading cause of death for Black men ages 35 to 44.

Testing USA HIV Testing Counselor, Eric Boyd, said, “Of the approximately 1.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States, an estimated 20% are unaware of their HIV-positive status. These testing events are a great opportunity for people to come out and be tested for free and to find out their HIV status in order to protect their own health and that of their partners.”

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.”

SOUTH CAROLINA HIV/AIDS statistics

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

• Cumulative AIDS Cases in SOUTH CAROLINA: 1.4% of US total (14,163 AIDS cases through 2007, per CDC)
• AIDS Case Rate per 100,000 population in SOUTH CAROLINA: 16.8 (for the US, the rate is 12.5) (per CDC 2007)
• Estimated number of people living with AIDS in SOUTH CAROLINA, all ages, 2007—7,510 (1.6% of US total)
• Cumulative HIV infection cases reported in SOUTH CAROLINA: 7,241 (2.1% of the 337,590 officially reported US HIV infections—via confidential name-based reporting—through 2007, per CDC)

SOURCE AIDS Healthcare Foundation