Washington, D.C. Officials To Boost HIV Awareness Efforts

The Washington, D.C. HIV/AIDS Administration (HAA) will increase its HIV-related media efforts targeting those at risk for the virus amid a recent finding by the agency that 3% of the district's residents are living with HIV/AIDS, the Washington Post reports. Mayor Adrian Fenty recently committed $500,000 annually for a five-year marketing campaign, Shannon Hader, director of HAA said. Advertising experts say that millions more would be needed in order for the agency to have an "effective" campaign, or that local media, billboard companies and the district's Metro system need to provide more free advertising space, according to the Post. Next month HAA plans to announce a campaign targeting heterosexual couples that will encourage HIV testing (Fears, Washington Post, 6/2).