New D.C. HIV/AIDS Initiative Targets Youth

ON WEDNESDAY, which was also National HIV Testing Day, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty and D.C.'s health director, Gregg Pane, announced a new effort to inform and educate teenagers and young adults about the dangers of HIV/AIDS and how to prevent contracting it. The District has one of the highest AIDS rates in the nation and has in recent years has struggled to keep track of its spread and those who are infected.

The new youth-oriented program involves community groups and public schools in the fight. As The Post's Susan Levine reports:

Between 2001 and 2005, according to the city Health Department, almost 10 percent of 4,027 HIV cases in the District involved residents 13 to 24. Most were infected after engaging in unprotected sex. But in a growing number of cases, the virus was transmitted at birth, explaining why the department is encouraging medical providers to screen pregnant women for HIV.

A year ago, D.C. Health officials announced an HIV screening campaign on Freedom Plaza, aimed at city residents ages 14 to 84. Although the effort made national headlines, it ended in December with marginal success.

» "An Overwhelmed D.C. Agency Loses Count of AIDS Cases" [WaPo]
» "D.C. Aims to Increase HIV Testing of Youths" [WaPo]
» "District's HIV Testing Found to Be Falling Short" [WaPo]

Posted By Clinton Yates at 10:38 AM on June 28, 2007 Tagged in D.C. Government , Free Ride , News , The District

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