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| Photo: U.S. Naval Hospital Ship Mercy. Credit: U.S. Navy |
FROM: U.S. VETERANS ADMINISTRATION
December 1 is World AIDS Day
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently released its recommendations that all Americans ages 15 to 65 should be tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime.
VA is ahead of the curve and has recommended routine HIV testing for all Veterans since 2009. VA policy is to test every Veteran at least once in their lifetime.
Currently, over 1.2 million Veterans, representing 20 percent of Veterans in care, have a documented HIV test in their electronic medical record. Routine HIV screening allows for care for HIV positive Veterans and reduces the potential for the virus to be transmitted to others.
VA’s Office of Public Health is encouraging VA staff to offer every Veteran an HIV test. Working together, we can create an AIDS-free generation!
To reinforce the importance of World AIDS Day, VA is issuing a unique and comprehensive HIV Prevention Manual, which is a compilation of VA policies and strategies to address primary and secondary HIV prevention.
Designed as a tool for front-line health care providers, it is an extremely valuable resource.
On World AIDS Day, VA joins the AIDS community in its "Facing AIDS" initiative, a campaign to help reduce stigma and promote HIV testing by putting a face to those with HIV and the people who support them.
"An estimated 1.2 million Americans are living with HIV, and yet one out of five doesn’t know it," according to Dr. Maggie Czarnogorski, Deputy Director of VA’s HIV, Hepatitis, and Public Health Pathogen Program. "World AIDS Day is an opportunity to take action. VA is the largest provider of care to those living with HIV/AIDS in the United States. By diagnosing HIV infection as soon as possible, Veterans can receive excellent care and remain healthy for many years to come."
Join VA in recognizing World AIDS Day. Say yes to the test!
