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Sierra Leone AIDS Director Praises AHF for “One Million Tests/World AIDS Day 2008” Campaign

“Letter of Appreciation” from Director of National HIV/AIDS Council and Secretariat Acknowledges Successful Collaboration Which Resulted in 23,063 People Being Tested for HIV in Sierra Leone in the Week Leading Up to December 1, 2008

By: AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Los Angeles, Ca - December 19, 2008

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is proud to announce that it has received a “Letter of Appreciation” from the government of Sierra Leone expressing gratitude for AHF’s partnership in the recent “One Million Tests/World AIDS Day 2008” campaign. The worldwide campaign spearheaded by AHF, brought together 1000 global partners in 72 countries, including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local and national governments, international relief agencies, faith-based organizations and civil society in a collaborative effort to conduct free HIV tests to one million people around the global in observance of World AIDS Day 2008.

Having made a commitment to provide 20,000 free HIV tests to its citizenry as part of the campaign, Sierra Leone’s National HIV/AIDS Council and Secretariat exceeded that goal by conducting 23,063 HIV tests in twelve districts in the week leading up to World AIDS Day, November 26th to December 1st 2008. In a remarkable collaboration between the government, non-profit and private sectors, these tests were conducted in part due to a successful partnership with Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc. who generously donated 10,000 “Determine” HIV tests, half of the total provided to the government of Sierra Leone. Funding for the additional 10,000 tests was provided by AHF.

In the letter, Dr. Brima Kargbo, MD, MPH, Director of the National HIV/AIDS Council and Secretariat, states: “I am pleased to inform you that Sierra Leone tested 23,063 people (9,424 males and 13,639 females). We are very much appreciative of the test kits that were made available for the exercise. We hope our collaboration will continue to be strengthened.”

“We humbly and gratefully receive this acknowledgement from the government of Sierra Leone and would like to return the compliment by praising the remarkable commitment of the National HIV/AIDS Council and Secretariat. We would also like to express our thanks to Inverness for its generous donation of 10,000 HIV tests to the Sierra Leone World AIDS Day effort,” said Terri Ford, Director of Global Advocacy for AIDS Healthcare Foundation. “To make this happen, AHF, the Sierra Leone government and Inverness united in a powerful trio of NGO, government and industry. This is a great example of how, with a united effort, great strides can be made in the fight against AIDS.”

Add Ms. Ford: “We are also pleased to announce that as a result of this successful partnership, AHF has been invited to meet with the Sierra Leone government in Freetown to discuss further collaboration for expanded testing and treatment services in the country.”
Full text of the letter below:
National HIV/AIDS Secretariat
15A Kingharman Road
Brookfields,
Freetown
Sierra Leone

Re: NHAS/WAD/2008

16th December 2008

Terri M. Ford
Director, Global Advocacy
Director, One Million Tests Campaign
AIDS Healthcare Foundation

Dear Terri,

LETTER OF APPRECIATION

On behalf of the National HIV/AIDS Council and its Secretariat I wish to express our profound thanks and appreciation to you and your institution in particular for the recent support in commemorating World AIDS Day 2008 in Sierra Leone. Your support was very timely and clearly manifested the commitment of your institution in partnering with us in the global campaign against the spread of the HIV.

I am pleased to inform you that Sierra Leone tested 23,063 people (9,424 males and 13,639 females). We are very much appre

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Out of the Closet is the name of the consignment shop Palin frequents back in Anchorage. It also happens to be the name of a chain of non-profit stores in California and Florida run by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). It's proceeds go toward HIV medical care, testing and prevention service, among other things.

When the AHF heard about the Alaska version via all the Palin hype, they sent over a cease and desist letter asking them to change their name. TMZ talked to Ellen Arvold, who owns the shop. She admits she's a little bummed, but plans on complying and changing the name of her store.

Los Angeles-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is a global organization providing cutting-edge medicine and advocacy to over 70,000 people in 22 countries. It is the nation’s largest provider of HIV/AIDS medical care.

A truly independent voice in its mission to rid the world of HIV/AIDS, AHF’s operating capital comes from its own self-created social enterprises. AHF Pharmacies, thrift stores, health care contracts and other strategic partnerships generate funding that helps AHF provide medical and advocacy services to the thousands of people it serves.

Generating and defining new, innovative ways to treatment, prevention and advocacy is the hallmark of AHF’s success. It is currently embarked on a mass testing initiative to identify and treat the 25 million people who don’t know they are infected. It will take 1 billion tests annually, and AHF is advocating mass testing models in hopes of eliminating older, more time consuming methods.

Since 1987, AHF has cared for thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide. As AHF creates and implements its unparalleled programs in new communities in the U.S. and abroad, it expands its delivery of healthcare and influence over policy with the sole aim of saving more lives.