CDC Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention Director To Discuss Shift in HIV Prevention Funding

WAMU's "Kojo Nnamdi Show" on Tuesday in the second hour of the program will include an interview with Dr. Robert Janssen, director of the CDC Divisions of HIV/AIDS Prevention, about the federal government's shift in its HIV/AIDS prevention strategy to focus on preventing HIV-positive people from spreading the virus rather than targeting people who are at high risk of contracting HIV (Nnamdi, "Kojo Nnamdi Show," WAMU, 6/15). CDC in May awarded $49 million in grants to 142 community-based organizations' programs that focus on identifying people who are already HIV-positive in its first round of funding since announcing the new strategy in April 2003. CDC has said that the previous emphasis on community outreach prevention programs has proven ineffective, citing annual increases in the number of new HIV cases nationwide. The new effort aims to increase accessibility to HIV testing -- especially using the rapid HIV test that can provide same-day results -- so that the approximately 200,000 HIV-positive individuals in the United States who are unaware of their status can become aware of it and prevent transmission to others (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 5/24).

The complete segment will be available online in RealPlayer after the broadcast.