Baltimore, MD (November 30, 2011) - The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's (DHMH) Infectious Disease and Environmental Health Administration (IDEHA) will join the World Health Organization, UNAIDS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), as well as state and local partners around the country, in commemorating World AIDS Day on December 1.

"World AIDS Day presents all of us with an opportunity to take action. You can get tested, avoid high risk behaviors, talk about HIV prevention with family, friends, and colleagues, and provide support to people living with HIV/AIDS," said Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, Secretary of DHMH.  "DHMH is committed to collaborating with public and private sector partners to provide Marylanders with HIV prevention and care services."

"We encourage all Marylanders, 13 years and older, to get tested for HIV annually as part of routine health care," said Heather Hauck, Director of IDEHA. "This 30^th year of HIV in the U.S. reminds us to talk about HIV, get tested for HIV, and get treatment for HIV so that we can live longer, healthier lives."

IDEHA's World AIDS Day observance will be held at Coppin State University's Physical Education Complex Room PE-109, located at 2523 Gwynn Falls Parkway in Baltimore on Thursday December 1, 2011 from 10:30 am to 12 noon.

•  For further information on HIV testing and care services, contact IDEHA at 410-767-5227 or visit http://ideha.dhmh.maryland.gov/

• For data and information about the HIV epidemic in Maryland, please visit the IDEHA Center for HIV Surveillance and Epidemiology website at: http://ideha.dhmh.maryland.gov/chse.

• To see a list of regional activities, visit http://ideha.dhmh.maryland.gov/pdf/World_AIDS_Day_2011_Community_Calendar_by_Jurisdiction.pdf.