By Sarah Lovenheim

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty appeared together in TV and radio ads yesterday, encouraging listeners to seek HIV tests.

The ads follow the observance of National HIV Testing Day this past Saturday and a report released in March by Mayor Fenty's office that sparked concern about local prevention efforts.

As Fenty explained back then, "We know we have a lot of work to do as a government to educate and to get the information out, and as a community to step up and realize how dangerous we are with our sexual behavior."

The motto of the new ad campaign is "Take the Test, Take Control."

In a 30-second TV spot, Sebelius points out, "Every nine and a half minutes someone becomes infected with HIV." Fenty chimes in: "To find a testing site near you, text your zip code to KNOWIT, that's 566948 or visit hivtest.org."

Video after the jump.

Here's the video:

In a statement circulated by HHS this morning, Sebelius said, "Many people who have HIV don't know it." Yet "people who do know are living longer, healthier lives with treatment."

In the 60-second radio ad, Fenty reminds viewers that D.C. has the highest rates of AIDS cases in the nation and reiterates that HIV testing sites are available to everyone.

By Sarah Lovenheim  |  July 2, 2009; 6:21 AM ET
Categories:  Daily Dose  | Tags: Kathleen Sebelius, Mayor Adrain Fenty, Sarah Lovenheim, health-care service Share This:  E-Mail | Technorati | Del.icio.us | Digg | Stumble Previous: Report Offers Guidance on Comparative Effectiveness
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