June 18th: AHF/Magic Johnson Testing Van Teams with Montgomery AIDS Outreach for Free HIV Testing Event

Event is Part of Fourteen-City, Three-Week, Cross-County AHF/Magic Johnson HIV
Testing Tour from Los Angeles to Washington, DC.: Free HIV Testing and AIDS
Awareness Caravan Visits Hard-hit Southern Cities; Arrives D.C., on Saturday
June 27th-National HIV Testing Day
MONTGOMERY, Ala.--(Business Wire)--
AIDS Healthcare Foundation:

What: Free HIV Testing Event

When: THURSDAY, June 18th 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Where: WalMart Parking Lot
851 Ann Street
off I-85 in Montgomery

Who: Joseph Terrill, Domestic Testing Manager, AHF
Azul Mares-DelGrasso, Field Services Manager, AHF`s Public Health Division
Mike Murphree, Executive Director, MAOI
Tommy Chavis, Lead Educator, MAOI

B-ROLL AHF/Magic Johnson Mobile HIV Testing Unit with a large photo of Magic Johnson on the side of the van

CONTACTS: Lori Yeghiayan, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Mobile: (323) 377-4312

Cumulative AIDS Cases in ALABAMA 0.9% of US total (9,091 AIDS cases through 2007, per CDC)

On Thursday, June 18thAIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the nation`s largest
non-profit AIDS organization, will partner with Montgomery AIDS Outreach, Inc.
(MAOI) to provide free HIV testing through a mobile HIV testing van in the
parking lot of WalMart on 851 Ann St., just off Interstate-85 in Montgomery from
2:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

In an effort to boost AIDS awareness and HIV prevention and testing efforts in
some of the hardest hit regions of the United States, AHF began a three week,
fourteen-city cross country HIV testing caravan in one of its popular AHF Mobile
HIV Testing Units, which are named in honor ofand partnership with HIV positive
basketball legend Earvin Magic Johnson, Jr. and actor and AIDS advocate Blair
Underwood. The tour kicked-off in Los Angeles on Monday, June 8th and culminates
with the mobile unit`s arrival in Washington, DC on Saturday, June 27th-National
HIV Testing Day. AHF ispermanently relocating one of the mobile testing units
from Los Angeles to D.C., to provide free, easy-to-access rapid HIV testing in
various neighborhoods throughout the nation`s capital, where it was recently
reported that the HIV prevalence rate has surged past 3%-higher than in Lagos,
Nigeria.

As AHF staffers and HIV testing counselors drive the van from Los Angeles to
Washington through many Southern and Eastern states, AHF`s `whistle stop`
testing tour will seek to heighten awareness about HIV testing in local
communities along the route.

"While making initial plans to transport our brand new, state-of-the-art
AHF/Magic Johnson Mobile Testing Unit from Los Angeles to Washington, DC, we hit
upon the idea that this cross country road trip presented a unique opportunity
to raise awareness about HIV testing, prevention and treatment through specific
testing events and community outreach in cities and states along the way," said
Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "As a result, AHF
partnered with respected local AIDS and community groups in Phoenix,
Albuquerque, Houston, New Orleans, Jackson, Mississippi; Pensacola, Florida;
Montgomery, Alabama; Jacksonville, Atlanta, Columbia, South Carolina; Charlotte,
Norfolk and Washington, DC to host free HIV testing and media events in each of
these communities. At the end of the tour, the AHF/Magic Johnson Mobile Testing
Unit will remain and operate in Washington, where AHF will also open a free AIDS
treatment clinic-our first in that city-later this summer."

"The beauty of these free mobile HIV testing vans is that AIDS Healthcare
Foundation operates them right in the heart of the community-in parking lots of
popular retail stores, nearby hip nightclubs and gathering spots, at church
events-and they provide the testing, counseling and results all in one session,
so people get their test results right away on the same day," said Blair
Underwood, who attended the Los Angeles kick-off event. "It is important that
people learn how to avoid becoming infected with HIV; or if they are infected,
know their HIV status, and seek medical treatment, if needed. People really need
to know their HIV status today. These HIV testing vans provide that opportunity
for free in a friendly, no hassle way."

During the testing tour, AIDS Healthcare Foundation will also present $5,000
grants to each of the local partners AHF is collaborating with along the way.
And throughout the course of the 4,220 mile, three week cross country HIV
testing tour, HIV testing counselors and AHF staffers will also supply a steady
stream of updates, videos and images via new media: YouTube, Facebook, MySpace
and Twitter postings from along the route, interviews with local partners,
government officials and, when appropriate and available, interviews with people
who were tested on the mobile unit.

* http://www.youtube.com/aidshealth
* http://www.facebook/people/Aidshealth-Care/
* http://www.twitter.com/freehivtest
* http://www.myspace.com/aidshealth
* http://www.freehivtest.net/testingusa

A fully outfitted 34 foot HIV/AIDS mobile medical treatment clinic that is
operated by AHF`s Positive Healthcare in rural areas of north Florida and in the
Panhandle will also join the HIV testing caravan starting in New Orleans. The
van, affectionately dubbed, `Bertha,` will travel on with the AHF/Magic Johnson
Testing Unit through the remaining Southern and Eastern states and on to
Washington. This mobile clinic will serve as an additional backup HIV testing
van along the route. Bertha, however, will return to service as a mobile medical
clinic in Florida after the National HIV Testing event in Washington on June
27th.

HIV Statistics in the United States

"Last August, the Centers for Disease Control released new data showing an
alarming 40% increase in HIV infections in the US-56,000 new cases each year up
from a previous estimate of 40,000 new cases annually," said Whitney
Engeran-Cordova, Director of AIDS Healthcare Foundation`s Public Health
Division. "There is no doubt that the South is disproportionately affected by
HIV and without adequate resources. On our trip we want to meet our colleagues
in these cities, support agencies in providing testing and do what we can to
raise awareness about the genuine need for HIV testing and treatment throughout
the region. The number of new infections in the U.S. is absolutely unacceptable.
We have a responsibility to do what we must to help those with HIV know their
status and get linked into care."

According to an HIV/AIDS Policy Fact Sheet produced by the Kaiser Family
Foundation ("The HIV/AIDS Epidemic in the United States", updated, February,
2009, with statistics through 2007)

* Ten states account for 71% of AIDS cases reported since the beginning of the
epidemic. Nine of these states also rank in the top 10 for newly reported cases.
Three of the states that the AHF/Magic Johnson Mobile Testing HIV testing Unit
will visit on its tour-Texas, Florida, and Georgia-are among these top ten
states; together, they account for 21% of the nation`s reported AIDS cases
through the end of 2007-or 216,199 cumulative AIDS cases.

The Kaiser Fact Sheet also pointed out:

* (AIDS) case rates per 100,000 provide a different measure of the epidemic`s
impact, since they reflect the concentration of cases after accounting for
differences in population size across states. The District of Columbia has the
highest AIDS case rate in the nation. Seven of the top 10 states by AIDS case
rate are in the South. The AHF/Magic Johnson Mobile HIV Testing Unit tour will
travel to and do HIV testing events in five of these Southern states and areas:
Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and the District of Columbia.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the nation`s largest non-profit HIV/AIDS
healthcare provider. AHF currently provides medical care and/or services to more
than 100,000 individuals in 21 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin
America/Caribbean and Asia. Additional information is available at
www.aidshealth.org

Montgomery AIDS Outreach, Inc. (MAO) is a private, not-for-profit Community
Based AIDS Service Organization established in 1987. MAO has transitioned from a
volunteer education and service organization to a full-time primary care
facility. MAO also has a satellite clinic in Dothan. We currently have over
1,300 clients in care through both clinics and several mobile clinic sites
throughout South Central Alabama. MAO currently serves 22 counties in the
Southern portion of Alabama. MAO also provides more than 300 HIV Prevention
Programs throughout these counties annually. We believe that Education is Power
and Knowing your Status is vital in Reducing the New HIV infections from this
epidemic. Montgomery AIDS Outreach provides community prevention education,
quality services, and compassionate care to those affected by HIV/AIDS. For
information on how you can help, contact MAO @ 334-280-3349.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Lori Yeghiayan
Mobile: 323-377-4312
E-Mail: loriy@aidshealth.org

Copyright Business Wire 2009