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"HIV/AIDS is one of the most devastating diseases known to exist. It has cut short the lives of too many. I am proud to support efforts like the National HIV Testing Day, which are important in helping raise awareness of the disease and in fighting its spread by providing education and treatment to people who need it. I have long been an advocate for programs such as the Ryan White CARE Act (RWCA), which provides funding for treatment and care for individuals suffering from HIV/AIDS who are in the greatest need of assistance. Many North Carolina communities have seen dramatic increases in their RWCA funding levels, including $368,000 in the Raleigh/Durham area. Overall, North Carolina will gain $10.2 million in additional funding through federal law. I am hopeful that with the help of programs like RWCA and the National HIV Testing Day, we can curb the spread of this devastating disease." - Sen. Richard Burr
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Test For Life also conducted a Question & Answer session with First Lady Laura Bush on the importance of routine HIV testing. The column was published in today's Charlotte Observer. The full story can be found at: http://www.charlotte.com/opinion/story/688015.html
Senator Burr's National HIV Testing Day message follows Test For Life's release of a national survey on attitudes surrounding HIV and AIDS as part of its national campaign to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and ensure access to care for those who test positive.
The data and full results can be found on Test For Life's website at: www.testforlife.org
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are approximately 250,000 to 300,000 Americans who do not know they are infected with HIV. CDC also estimates that the majority of new infections are caused by individuals who are unaware of their status and are unknowingly spreading the disease.
Test For Life began in 2006 as an educational campaign of the National Minority Quality Forum, designed to raise awareness of the importance of routine HIV screening in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Revised Recommendations for HIV Testing are essential to improving early diagnosis of HIV and linking patients to early care and treatment of the disease. www.testforlife.org
SOURCE Test For Life
