WASHINGTON The Obama administration recently launched the first major U.S. initiative against HIV/AIDS in more than a decade.
The 5-year campaign, "Act Against Aids," is a joint effort of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the White House to educate the public about HIV/AIDS, which remains a serious problem in the United States despite advances in treatment that allow more patients to survive.
Recent data from the Kaiser Family Foundation show that concern about HIV infection has declined in recent years, said Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of the CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS.
"People don't recognize that they are at risk, and they engage in high-risk behavior," Dr. Fenton said at a press briefing.
The goal of the campaign is to educate the public about the risks of HIV and encourage them to get the right information to protect themselves and their communities.
The campaign kicks off with a series of public service announcements, including radio ads, online ads, and public transportation ads, with the theme, "Every 9.5 minutes."
According to data from the CDC, approximately 56,000 Americans become infected with HIV each year, which translates to one person becoming infected about every 9.5 minutes.
The campaign also will target specific communities that are at increased risk for HIV, starting with the African American community, said Melody Barnes, who is assistant to the president and director of the White House Domestic Policy Council.
Targeted outreach is also planned for the gay, bisexual, and Latino communities, she added.
Doctors need to know that the Act Against AIDS campaign will be working to raise awareness about HIV infection and encourage testing, Dr. Fenton said in an interview.
"This [effort] is likely to have an impact on health seeking behaviors," he said.
Consumer information regarding the HIV campaign can be found online at www.NineAndaHalfMinutes.org