HHS Secretary Encourages HIV/AIDS Testing

NEW YORK, June 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On the eve of National HIV/AIDS Testing Day (June 27th), Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is encouraging everyone to know their status and get tested for HIV/AIDS.  In an exclusive interview with April Ryan, White House Correspondent for American Urban Radio Networks, Sebelius noted that testing is critical to decreasing future infections and a gateway to treatment.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1.1M people are living with HIV in the United States and of those, one in five (20%) don't know they're infected. CDC statistics indicate fifty thousand people get infected with HIV each year and eighteen thousand die annually from HIV/AIDS. In the African American community just under 50% of the new HIV/AIDS cases are African American and half of those currently living with HIV/AIDS are African American.

As part of the Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative (AAALI), American Urban Radio Networks produced the video interview for distribution to urban radio station and AAALI member websites, as well as other stakeholders, to raise awareness of the importance of being tested.
http://www.aurn.com/webex.php?itemID=2863

About American Urban Radio Networks
American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) is the only African-American owned radio network company in the United States. It is the largest network reaching Urban America with nearly 20 million listeners each week.  Through four programming networks and its marketing division, American Urban Radio Networks reaches more African-Americans than any other medium in America and produces more programming than all other broadcasting companies combined. American Urban Radio Networks broadcasts 200 weekly news, entertainment, sports and information programs to more than 300 radio stations nationwide. It is the only African-American broadcaster with a bureau in the White House. AURN has offices and bureaus in New York, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.

About Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative
The Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative (AAALI) is a $16 million, six-year partnership between CDC and leading national organizations representing the populations hardest hit by HIV. The CDC launched AAALI as part of its Act Against AIDS communication campaign bringing together some of the nation's foremost African American and Latino organizations to intensify HIV/AIDS awareness, prevention, testing efforts within communities disproportionately affected across the United States. AAALI partner organizations were chosen based on their demonstrated national reach, credibility and influence, as well as their ability to effectively reach these impacted communities through their existing communication channels and mobilization activities. The effort brings together a wide range of organizations, including civic, social, civil rights and professional organizations, as well as those in government, education and media.

SOURCE American Urban Radio Networks