THE FOUNDER'S VISION
The HIV-Free organization was founded on the principle "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure". With a sincere interest in HIV and other health related issues, the founder of HIV-Free sought earnestly to find a safe measure that would help to erase the fear of those individuals confronted with the issue of being unknowingly exposed to or infected with the HIV/AIDS virus. The founder was well aware of the excellent safe sex measures that were already in place. Measures such as The Abstinence Pledge, BET's "Wrap it Up" Campaign, the plea for marital fidelity, having only one sexual partner and getting HIV tested. He realized that while these measures were somewhat effective, they were not enough to eradicate the ever-increasing rate of new sex-related HIV cases.
THE PROBLEM
The first cases of what would later become known as AIDS were reported in the United States in June of 1981. Since that time, 1.7 million people in America alone have been infect-ed with HIV and more than 500,000 have already died from it.
According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of new cases of HIV infection diagnosed among 15-19 year olds in the U.S. rose by 20% from 2001 to 2005. For young people ages 20 to 24, the news is similar. And newer infection numbers set to be released soon by the CDC may be even higher. In fact, according to the Washington Post, scientists preparing the new statistics have confirmed that rates of new infection in the U.S. may be 50% higher than originally believed!
HIV testing is important for both prevention and treatment efforts and new technologies are now available. Yet approximately 25% or more of those infected with HIV don't even know it according to a fact sheet published in 2005 by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
Young adults and teens continue to be at risk. At least 50% of new HIV infections are among those under the age of 25. Most young people are infected through sexual contact. Women account for 27% of new AIDS diagnoses and in 2002, teen girls between 13 and 19 years old represented 51% of HIV cases in their age group. We are still facing an epidemic!
OUR SOLUTION
Health is an everyday concern. Good health is a precious treasure to be safeguarded. Doctors and other scientists have done and are continuing to do their part to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. But HIV is not their problem alone. We are all part of the problem, and it is time for all of us to become part of the solution. It is the responsibility of each citizen of the United States and of the world to get HIV tested. Each of us needs to know our HIV status. Each of us needs to become better educated and each of us needs to curtail all at-risk behaviors.
The HIV-Free Membership Card System is one of the best ways to accomplish all three of these objectives. The system works like this. Any individual of legal age can go to the HIV-Free website, fill out the application and pay their $24.95 fee. They will then be assigned a membership ID#. The person then gets HIV tested. If the results are negative for HIV/AIDS, he obtains the doctor's report and mails it along with a completed Release of Medical Information Form (available online) to HIV-Free at the given address. His personal and medical information will be added to our database. This information is only released to persons or dating partners to whom the individual has either shown his card or given his membership ID#. He would then require any potential dating partners to get HIV tested and obtain their own HIV-Free membership card. As new people join, this process is repeated. again and again.
So you can readily see that by joining HIV-Free and following our prescribed protocols you can become part of the solution for preventing the spread of AIDS. Remember and live by this creed: "To Remain HIV-Free Is Up To Me!"
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Then on January 1, 2008 came the idea of the HIV-Free Membership Card! A decep-tively simple idea that has the potential to change the world! The HIV-Free Membership Card system, properly implemented can now give HIV-Free individuals peace of mind by assuring that their husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend or any potential dating partner is HIV-Free as well. No longer will anyone have to put themselves, their health, or their life at risk! Once they have been HIV tested, found to be negative and received their HIV-Free Membership Card, they have the right to expect and indeed demand the same from others. They no longer have to assume, hope, or take their partner's word that they are truly HIV-Free. Now they can KNOW FOR SURE!