ASCP Launches Social Media Campaign in Honor of World AIDS Day
Chicago, IL (PRWEB) November 30, 2015 -- The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) announced today that it has launched a social media campaign in honor of World AIDS Day 2015. On Nov. 30, ASCP shared its “Give a minute. Get tested. Find a cure.” icon and infographic designed to generate public awareness about World AIDS Day and the importance of getting tested for HIV.
ASCP has asked members to replace their Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn profile pictures with the “Give a minute. Get Tested. Find a cure.” icon and share the accompanying infographic on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, to highlight the importance of HIV testing.
“After patient information is confirmed, it takes very little time to get tested for HIV and patients generally receive their test results within 24 hours or so,” explained David N.B. Lewin, MD, FASCP, President of ASCP. “Our social media campaign was created to encourage people to take a minute out of their day to spread the word about World AIDS Day, get tested for HIV, and help the global medical community work toward a cure.”
World AIDS Day is held annually on Dec. 1 and provides an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV, and commemorate people who have died. World AIDS Day was the first ever global health day, and the first one was held in 1988.
“Despite the scientific advances in HIV treatment, many people still do not know how to protect themselves and others from HIV, and discrimination remains a very real reality for a larger number of people living with HIV,” added Dr. Lewin. “When it comes to HIV diagnosis and treatment, clinical laboratories are a very important part of the solution. We created this campaign to enable ASCP members to help spread the word about the importance of getting tested and to highlight the crucial role they play in helping people get to the treatment they need.”
The infographic can be found here and highlights the fact that:
• Nearly 20 million people living with HIV around the world had been tested and knew their status in 2015.*
• Over 15 million people are now receiving antiretroviral therapy in 2015.*
• Nearly half of the 36.9 million people estimated to be living with HIV across the globe in 2015 still needed to be tested.*
• Late diagnosis of HIV infection is the most significant obstacle to increasing HIV treatment.*
An estimated 36.9 million people in the world are living with HIV, and more than 25 million people between 2000 and 2014 have died from AIDS-related causes, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.
*Source: UNAIDS 2015
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About ASCP
Founded in 1922 in Chicago, ASCP is a medical professional society with more than 100,000 member board-certified anatomic and clinical pathologists, pathology residents and fellows, laboratory professionals, and students. ASCP provides excellence in education, certification, and advocacy on behalf of patients, pathologists, and laboratory professionals. To learn more, visit http://www.ascp.org. Follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ascp_chicago and connect with us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ASCP.Chicago.
Pam Flores, American Society for Clinical Pathology, +1 7732189260, [email protected]
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