Center for Disease Prevention and Control Launches “i know” Campaign

Quiet as its kept, HIV/AIDS is still a serious illness, especially in the black community. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Blacks accounted for 51% of the 42,655 new instances of HIV/AIDS in 2007. The rate of AIDS diagnoses were 10 times the rate for whites, and 3 times the rate for Latinos. The hardest hit continues to be our youth with people between the age of 13-29 accounting for half of new cases in that age group despite accounting for only 14 percent of the U.S. population. With that said, the community needs to do everything in its power to stem the tide of this silent epidemic.

In an effort to get the message of prevention, testing, and awareness out to the masses, the CDC announced the launch of “i know”, a social media effort to get the facts out about the disease via the social networking heavy hitters Facebook and Twitter. They’ve also launched the “i know” website to disseminate the information. People also have the option to subscribe to receive text messages on the latest information regarding testing along with video messages from youth advocates and celebrities.

“The ‘i know’ effort is part of CDC’s commitment to addressing the silence around HIV and inviting African-American young adults to take charge of the conversation,” said Kevin Fenton, M.D., director of CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention.  ”At CDC, we have the science, but it is their voices that will make the difference.  By supporting frank conversations through social media, ‘i know’ creates an opportunity for young people to talk directly with each other about the issues that fuel this still-deadly disease. Their ideas and involvement will be a critical part of the solution.”

Speaking of celebrities, the CDC has recruited some of the biggest names in entertainment to get the message out. Award-winning actor and singer Jamie Foxx, has signed on to create a series of video and radio PSAs that encourage people to get involved and proactive about knowing their status. Rapper/actor Ludacris is also participating in the campaign. The CDC has also partnered with African American organization that have pledged to use their own social network avenues to get the word out.

“The voices of young people are key to ending HIV within the African-American community,” said Jonathan Mermin, M.D., director of CDC’s Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention.  ”We know that the simple act of talking about HIV can help change the course of the epidemic, by reducing stigma associated with the disease, increasing knowledge about HIV prevention, and motivating life-saving behaviors.”

About the Author
Sherri is a freelance writer that has a love of all things fun and geeky including gadgets, gaming, anime, and comics. When she isn't writing or out on the town living it up, she loves doing 10-12 hour marathon sessions on her Xbox 360 or one of her older consoles. It's not an addiction, it's a way of life!
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