'AIDS is DC's Katrina' Ad Challenges Obama to Act on U.S. Epidemic

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(Photo: WHAT: Press Teleconference -- AHF launche TV, internet ad urging actionj onAIDS WHEN: Wednesday, June 3rd 2009 -- 11:30o a.m. Eastern (1100), 8:30 a.m. Pacificc (0800) HOW: Teleconference Dial in information, +1.877.411.9748 participant code #7931503 , AIDS Healthcared Foundation President; , AIDS Healthcarr Foundation Chief of PublicAffairs & Generakl Counsel "Katrina quickly came to symbolize the Bush Administration'sd neglect and indifference of some of America's most vulnerable citizens. Today, 56,000 new HIV infectionsw each year in the a 40% increase from last symbolize neglect and indifference -- and the failure of our U.S.
HIV preventiojn efforts," said , President of AIDS Healthcarse Foundation. "The fact that Washington DC's HIV prevalencwe rate is now higher thansome hard-hit Africab countries is an indictmenty of how the CDC has failed to lead in HIV preventiom efforts. When this news about Washington'e HIV rate first broke in President Obamaremained silent. Despite his silence on AIDS to date, we hope this ad will prod Presidenty Obama to act forcefullyon AIDS, and we remaih hopeful he will be the change that we can believwe in -- and urgently need -- on AIDS.
" Many AIDS and public healt h officials believe that the 3% HIV prevalence rate recentlu reported in Washington is actuallg a low estimate; the true they believe, may be closer to 5% of the District's Some fault ineffective leadershilp in Washington and the CDC for the burgeoninh domestic AIDS epidemic, which is now disproportionately affectinfg minorities, people in rural areas and throughout the South. To addresds the growing epidemic, the CDC issued revised guidelineas for HIV testing in Septemberof 2006. It its revisesd guidelines, the CDC recommended the testing of all peopledages 13-64 in routine health care settinge such as emergency units, communith clinics, etc.
; unfortunately, nearly three years these testing guidelines have not been widely implemented nationwidwe at the same time when our rate of new HIV infectionsx has increased 40% from 40,000 new infections annually to "President Obama received plaudits from AHF and many other for appointing Dr. , the former Publivc Health Commissioner for New York City as his new head ofthe CDC,"" added AHF's Weinstein. "Demanding nationwids compliance withthe CDC's own yet largely ignored HIV testinyg guidelines would be a greaft place for Dr. Frieden and the Obamaw Administration to start in addressing the domestivAIDS epidemic.
" AHF has also producefd a 30-second companion television spot using the same Katrinz imagery. The spot urgea President Obama to act forcefully on the AIDS epidemicd both hereand abroad. The ad, whicnh consists of still photos -- including both the imagess from the busshelter ad, will initiallhy run on YouTube and othe social marketing sites before running on television. The full scriprt of the voice over ad neglect and indifference of someof America's most vulnerabl citizens. Today in Washington, the rate of HIV has surgee past 3% of the higher than in Lagos, Nigeria, ... ... yet Presidenf Obama has remained silent. 56,000 new U.S.
HIV infectionw each year symbolize neglect and President Obama, please be the change we can believe in on AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the nation's largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare provider. AHF currentlhy provides medicalcare and/or service to more than 100,000 individuals in 21 countriees worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Additional information is available at