Take Control of Your Health and Your Life.
Get Tested for HIV. More than 500,000 African Americans have HIV/AIDS. One-fourth of those who have HIV do not know it. It's time you got tested for HIV.
HIV and AIDS are having a devastating impact on African Americans. While African Americans represent only 13 percent of the U.S. population, they represented half of all new HIV/AIDS cases reported in 2006.
Many African Americans do not know that they are HIV-infected because they have never been tested. By finding out early if you are HIV-positive, you can begin treatments that can help you stay healthy and prevent spreading the infection to others.
Research shows that once people know that they are HIV-positive, they are more likely to seek care for themselves and protect others from becoming infected. The only sure way to know if you are HIV-infected is to get tested.
Some individuals neglect to get tested because they do not realize that they are at risk for contracting the disease. Others avoid finding out whether or not they are HIV-infected because they fear rejection and discrimination.
"Unfortunately, there is still a terrible stigma associated with HIV/AIDS that prevents people from getting tested," said Christopher H. Bates, acting director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of HIV/AIDS Policy. "That's why we're calling on HBCU alumni and students - among the best and the brightest minds in the country - to get involved in this issue. I encourage all HBCU alumni and students to set an example of leadership by getting tested for HIV and urging others to do the same."
To learn more about HIV testing and to find HIV testing locations in your area, visit the CDC HIV testing Web site (
www.hivtest.org) or call 800-CDC-INFO (232-4636). You can also text your Zip code to KNOWIT (566948).
Posted By: Reginald Culpepper
Monday, May 19th 2008 at 1:55PM
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