Obama on HIV Testing Day: ‘Know Your Status’

On national screening day, president highlights advances in testing methods

President Barack Obama on Tuesday made a plea to the more than 200,000 Americans who don’t know they are HIV-positive.

With more than 1.2 million living with HIV nationwide, Obama marked National HIV Testing Day by touting the progress made by his administration’s HIV/AIDS strategy.

“Knowing your HIV status is a vital step toward accessing life-extending treatment for HIV, and thanks to ongoing research, that treatment is more effective than ever,” Obama said in a statement released by the White House.

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The Affordable Care Act, on which the Supreme Court is expected make its ruling Thursday, requires health insurance plans to include HIV screening with no out-of-pocket cost to plan holders.

As part of a Centers for Disease Control program, "Expanding Testing Initiative," 2.8 million HIV tests have been conducted in its first three years, according to the White House statement. 

“Together, these and other efforts will help prevent new infections and ensure that people living with HIV lead healthy lives – moving us towards our goal of an AIDS-free generation,” Obama said.

In 2006, the president, then a senator, and his wife Michelle famously took HIV tests during a trip to Kenya. View video of the event below:

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