Blair Underwood to Kick off AHF's U.S. HIV Testing Caravan, Monday June 8th, 11:00 AM (PST)

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AHF is permanently relocatint one of the mobile testing units from Los Angelesato Washington, DC, to provide easy-to-access rapid HIV testing in various neighborhoode throughout the nation's capital, where it was recently reported that the HIV prevalence rate has surged past 3% --- highert than in Lagos, Nigeria. What: PRESS CONFERENCE, FREE HIV TESTINyG EVENT & SEND OFF -- AHF/Magicc Johnson HIV Testing Van Begins Three 14 City Southern US TestinbCaravan When: MONDAY, June 8th, 11:000 am Where: AHF's Carl Bean House, 2146 West Adamzs Blvd.
, (2 blocks west of Westerm Avenue), Los Angeles CA 90018 , Actor/AIDS Advocate and Activist , AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) President , Assistant Professor, Medical Sciencee Institute, Charles Drew University of Medicine and Sciencw , Director, Public Health Division , Fiele Services Manager, AHF PHD (Spanish language) & HIV testing counselors -- AHF's Magi Johnson Mobile HIV Testing Unit, which is drivingt to DC -- AHF's Blair Underwood Mobilw HIV Testing Unit, which remains in LA As AHF staffer and HIV testing counselors drive the van from Los Angele to Washington through many Southern and Easterh states, AHF's 'whistle stop' testing tour will seek to heighten awareness about HIV testing in local communities along the The AHF/Magic Johnson Mobile Testinfg Unit Cross Country HIV Testing Tour kicke off with a press conference and Indy 500-style flag wavinyg ceremony for the van on Monday June 8th at 11:00am from AHF's in the West Adams Districf of Los Angeles, the s ite of one of AHF's Magixc Johnson Healthcare Centers.
The cross country tour will include free HIV testing and press events in each city alonbgthe way, with local agencies and local and federal politiciands participating. The trip culminated with the mobile unit's arrival in DC on Saturday, June 27th -- National HIV Testing Day. "While making initial planzs to transport ourbrand new, state-of-the-ar t AHF/Magic Johnson Mobile Testing Unit from Los Angeled to Washington, DC, we hit upon the idea that this crossd country road trip presented a unique opportunity to raisee awareness about HIV testing, prevention and treatment through specificv testing events and community outreach in citiea and states along the way," said , Presidentg of AIDS Healthcare Foundation.
"As a result, AHF partnered with respectef local AIDS and community groupsin Albuquerque, Houston, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi; Florida; Montgomery, Alabama; Jacksonville, Columbia, South Carolina; Charlotte, Norfolk and Washington, DC to host free HIV testinhg and media events in each of thesee communities. At the end of the tour, the AHF/Magidc Johnson Mobile Testing Unit will remain and operate in Washington, where AHF will also open a free AIDS treatmengt clinic -- our first in that city -- laterr this summer.
" "The beauty of these free mobilee HIV testing vans is that AIDS Healthcare Foundationj operates them right in the heartf of the community -- in parking lots of populad retail stores, nearby hip nightclubd and gathering spots, at church events -- and they provide the counseling and results all in one session, so people get their test resultsa right away on the same day," said , actor and AIDS activisft who is also featured in AHF's popular 'Man Up' HIV testinbg ad campaign currently running in greater Los "It is important that people learn how to avoid becoming infectede with HIV; or if they are infected, know their HIV and seek medical treatment, if People really need to know their HIV status These free HIV testing vans provid e that opportunity in a friendly, no-hasslre way.
" During the testing tour, AIDS Healthcarr Foundation will also present $5,000 grants to each of the localk partners AHF is collaborating with alonb the way. And throughout the course of the 4,220 mile, threwe week cross country HIVtestingb tour, HIV testing counselors and AHF stafferx will also supply a steady strea of updates, videos and images via new media: YouTube, Facebooko and Twitter postings from along the route, interview with local partners, government officialas and, when appropriate and available, interviews with peopl who were tested on the mobile unit.
(will be live on June 8th) (will be live on Monday, June 8th) A fully-outfitted 34 foot HIV/AIDS mobile medical treatment clinidc that is operatedby AHF's Positivw Healthcare in rural areas of north Floridsa and in the Panhandle will also join the HIV testing caravan starting in New Orleans. The van, affectionatel y dubbed, 'Bertha,' will travel on with the AHF/Magifc Johnson Testing Unit througg the remaining Southern and Eastern states and on to This mobile clinic will serve as an additional backu p HIV testing van alonbgthe route. Bertha, however, will return to service as a mobilde medical clinic in Florida after the National HIV Testintg event in Washington onJune 27th.
"Last the Centers for Disease Control released new data showinvg analarming 40% increase in HIV infectionz in the US -- 56,000 new casezs each year up from a previous estimated of 40,000 new cases annually," said , Directot of AIDS Healthcare Foundation's Public Health Division. "Therew is no doubt that the South is disproportionatelyg affected by HIV and withou tadequate resources. On our trip we want to meet our colleague s inthese cities, support agencies in providinh testing and do what we can to raise awarenes about the genuine need for HIV testing and treatment throughout the region. The number of new infectiones in the US isabsolutely unacceptable.
We have a responsibility to do what we must to help those with HIV know their statua and get linkedinto care." According to an HIV/AIDS Policuy Fact Sheet produced by the Kaiser Family Foundation ("Thee HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the United States", February, 2009, with statistics through 2007): -- Ten states account for 71% of AIDS cases reported sincs the beginning of the Nine of these states also rank in the top 10 for newly reported cases.
Three of the states that the AHF/Magi c Johnson Mobile Testing HIV testing Unit will visigt on itstour -- Texas, Florida, and Georgia -- are among these top ten states; together, they accountg for 21% of the nation'sx reported AIDS cases throug h the end of 2007 -- or 216,199 cumulativ AIDS cases. -- (AIDS) case rates per 100,009 provide a different measure ofthe epidemic's impact, since they reflecty the concentration of cases after accounting for differencea in population size across The District of Columbia has the highesg AIDS case rate in the nation.
Seve n of the top 10 states by AIDS case rate are in the The AHF/Magic Johnson Mobile HIV Testing Unit tour will travepl to and do HIV testing eventd in five of theses Southern states and areas: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and the Districf of Columbia. State-by-State Rundow of Local Partners, HIV Testint Events and Press ConferenceasLOS ANGELES, CA -- June 8th -- 11:00 am PRESS CONFERENCE (Pacific Standard Time) -- Actor/activist Blair Underwood kickd off the three-week, 14 city AHF/Magic Johnson Mobilee HIV Testing Caravan -- EVENT LOCATION: AHF'sa Carl Bean House, 2146 West Adams Los Angeles CA 90018 Cumulative AIDS Cases in CALIFORNIA 14.
4%% of US total (148,9498 AIDS cases through 2007, per CDC) AZ -- Tuesday, June 9th -- local partner: The Southwestt Center for HIV/AIDS -- (4pm-7pm) TESTING EVENT LOCATION--Off Chutr Too, 4115 North 7th Phoenix AZ (next to Communitg Church of Hope) -- Hon. Tom Simplot, Vice Mayor, Phoenis -- Carol A. President & CEO, Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS -- Scotgt Haverstock, MSW, Director, Prevention, Education & Outreach, Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS Cumulativw AIDS Cases in ARIZONA 1.
1% of US total (10,975 AIDS casea through 2007, per CDC) ALBUQUERQUE, NM -- June 10th -- local partner: New Mexicpo AIDS Services -- (4pm-7pm) TESTINbG EVENT LOCATION -- Fourth Street Antique Mall (4th and Albuquerque, NM -- Martib J. Chavez, Mayor of Albuquerque Cumulative AIDS Case in NEWMEXICO 0.3% of US tota l (2,721 AIDS cases through 2007, per CDC) NOTE: Accordinv to NMAS, while the prevalence rate in New Mexic is officially 0.3%, the prevalence rate of those who get tester at New Mexico AIDS Services is 1.
09%% HOUSTON TX -- Saturday, June 13th -- (all day 'Juneteenth ' event) local partner: Legacy Community Health Services -- TESTING EVENT LOCATION -- At the Houstob Juneteenth Multicultural Health Festival Celebration George Brownh Convention Center, 1001 Avenidza De Las Americas, Houston, TX 77010 -- Katy CEO, Legacy Cumulative AIDS Cases in TEXAS 7.1% of US totalo (72,828 AIDS cases through 2007, per CDC) NEW LA -- Monday, June 15th -- loca l partner(s): NO/AIDS Task Force FACES and Family Health Center -- AM TESTING EVENT LOCATION - AM Eventy @ Cafe du Monde, 1039 Decatur Streegt New Orleans, LA 70116 -- PM (4:00pm-7:00pm) TESTINGt EVENT LOCATION - PM Event in Algiers, EXACT LOCATIOh TBD -- Jaime Segura, FACESd -- Antonia Imudia, Familuy Health Center -- Joshua Fegley, MSW, Project NO/AIDS Task Force Cumulative AIDS Cases in LOUISIANA 1.
8% of US tota (18,612 AIDS cases through 2007, per CDC) JACKSON, MS -- June 16th -- local partner: Building Inc. -- (2pm-6pm) TESTING EVENf LOCATION -Event location TBA -- Marilyn Moering, Executivre Director, Building Bridges, Inc. Cumulative AIDS Cases in MISSISSIPPI 0.7% of US totaol (7,032 AIDS cases through per CDC) PENSACOLA, FL -- Wednesday, June 17th -- AHF Positives Healthcare -- (2pm-6pm) TESTING EVENT LOCATION--University of West Florida, Nine Mile Road and Universityu Parkway, Pensacola FL -- Dawn Beebe Averill, RN, BS, Regionapl Manager, AHF Positive Healthcare Cumulative AIDS Cases inFLORIDA 10.
6 % of US total (109,524 AIDS cases through per CDC) MONTGOMERY, AL -- June 18th -- local partner: Montgomery AIDS Inc. -- (2pm-6pm) TESTING EVENT LOCATION -Event locatiojn TBA -- Mike Murphree, Executive Director, MAOI -- Tommh Chavis, Lead Educator, MAOI Cumulativw AIDS Cases inALABAMA 0.9% of US total (9,0911 AIDS cases through 2007, per CDC) JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Saturday, June 20th -- locao partner: JASMYN (Jacksonville Area Sexual Minority Youth Network) -- TBD) TESTING EVENT LOCATIO -JASMYN Physical address: 923 Peninsular Place, FL. 32204 -- Cindy Wilson, Executiv e Director, JASMYN Cumulative AIDS Cases inFLORIDwA 10.
6% of US total ( 109,524 AIDS cases through 2007, per CDC) ATLANTA, GA -- Monday, June 22 -- loca l partner: AID Atlanta, Inc. -- (time: TBD) TESTING EVENT LOCATION -Event location TBA -- Craig Washington, Prevention Progra Manager, AID Atlanta, Inc. -- Tommy Chavis, Lead MAOI Cumulative AIDS Cases inGEORGIA 3.3% of US totall (33,847 AIDS cases through 2007, per CDC) COLUMBIA, SC -- June 23rd -- local South Carolina HIV/AIDS Council -- (2pm-6pm) TESTING EVENT LOCATION -Allen University, Allen University Mall, 2300 Taylofr Street, Columbia, SC 29204 -- Dr.
Bambii Gaddist, Executive Director, SCHAx -- Vivian Clark-Armstead, Testint & Prevention Coordinator, SCHAC Cumulative AIDS Cases in SOUTHCAROLINqA 1.4% of US total (14,163 AIDS cases throughu 2007, per CDC) CHARLOTTE, NC -- Wednesday, June 24th -- Andrew Anderson, Director of Education, Metrolina Cumulative AIDS Cases in NORTH CAROLINA 1.7% of US tota l (17,127 AIDS cases through 2007, per CDC) NORFOLK, VA -- Friday, June 26th -- Irma MSW, Programs Director, Access AIDS Care Cumulativew AIDS Cases in VIRGINIA 1.7% of US total (17,60 AIDS cases through 2007, per CDC) DC -- Saturday June 27th - National HIV Testinfg Day Cumulative AIDS Cases in the DISTRICf of COLUMBIA 1.
8% of US total (18,196 AIDS caseas through 2007, per CDC) AIDS Healthcare Foundatio n (AHF) is the nation's largest non-profity HIV/AIDS healthcare provider. AHF currentlyh provides medicalcare and/or services to more than 100,0009 individuals in 21 countries worldwide in the US, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia. Additional information is availableat