Latest CDC Act Against AIDS Initiative: Doing It

Dear Colleague,

We are pleased to announce the latest communication campaign under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Act Against AIDS initiative. Launched today at the 2015 National HIV Prevention Conference, this new national bilingual HIV and AIDS testing campaign, Doing It, emphasizes the importance of HIV testing for all people aged 18–64.

HIV testing is the first vital step that links persons living with HIV to medical care and treatment that can help them live longer, healthier lives and reduce the chance of transmitting HIV to their partners. And for HIV-negative persons, testing is an important gateway to HIV prevention services including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for those at substantial risk for acquiring HIV. In addition to encouraging testing for all adults, the campaign focuses on populations who are most at risk for HIV in the United States.

Overall, the campaign emphasizes that HIV testing is a normal part of life—everyone is Doing It. Testing campaign advertisements feature a diverse group of participants, community leaders, and celebrities and highlights people from a spectrum of communities—gay, bisexual, and heterosexual; black, white, and Latino; men, women, and transgender people; young and old. The campaign will be promoted through national online, print and broadcast advertisements, Pride events, social media, and community engagement.

When people know they have HIV, research shows that they take steps to protect their own health and prevent transmission to others. But nearly one in eight of the estimated 1.2 million Americans currently living with HIV do not know they are infected. Together, we can help emphasize the importance of testing by spreading the word to everyone that Doing It should be a normal part of living a healthy life. As a partner in HIV prevention, you can help support this effort to increase awareness, reduce the stigma often associated with HIV and AIDS, and influence social norms regarding testing. Below are several ways you can help spread the word that everyone’s Doing It.

•  Get tested for HIV. Visit the Doing It website in English and Spanish to find an HIV testing facility near you, learn more about HIV, and learn how it is affecting our communities.

•  Encourage others to get tested. Promote HIV testing by sharing the facts and the importance of knowing your status on social media.

•  Download and distribute campaign materials. Download digital and print materials as well as testimonial videos from our campaign website.

•  Join the #DoingIt movement.
  •  Like the Act Against AIDS Facebook page, share or respond to our posts, and direct your followers to check out our page and our website.
  •  Talk with us on Twitter. Spark online conversations about HIV and AIDS by using the campaign hashtags #DoingIt and by following our account@TalkHIV.
  •  Follow us on Instagram. View posts with others that are #DoingIt and repost within your own social network.
  •  Watch the Doing It campaign Public Service Announcement on YouTube and embed it on your websites or social media channels.

Thank you for your efforts in HIV prevention, awareness, testing, and treatment, and for your continued support of CDC and Act Against AIDS. Working together, we can ensure that everyone’s Doing It.

Sincerely,

/Eugene McCray/

Eugene McCray, MD

Director, Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, NCHHSTP, CDC

/David W. Purcell/

David W. Purcell, JD, PhD

Deputy Director for Behavioral & Social Science

Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, NCHHSTP, CDC