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LA gets millions for HIV testing purposes

Section: Health

T.C. Glover

It has been confirmed that Louisiana will be one of the 23 states that will split the $35 million donation for increased HIV testing opportunities from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The money will be targeted to the most disproportionate populations affected by the HIV virus, primarily African-Americans in the case of the state of Louisiana.

The purpose of the money is to purchase the easy-to-use response tests and to widely expand the testing in all communities. The HIV/AIDS prevention program manager for Louisiana's Office of Public Health states, "one big push is to integrate HIV testing into clinical settings as a part of routine medical care" (www.wdsu.com).

Studies show that 66% of the total persons living in Louisiana with the HIV/AIDS virus (approx. 15,274) are African-American (www.wdsu.com). A spokesperson with the Department of Health and Hospitals estimates Louisiana will receive a little under $1.4 million.

It is estimated that a "quarter of those living with HIV -- more than 250,000 Americans -- do not realize they are infected" with this disease (www.wdsu.com).

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