One of Arizona’s congressional representatives announced his support for a national day to take an HIV test.

U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) said on June 27 that he is backing a National HIV Testing Day.

According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 1.2 million people in the United States are currently living with HIV/AIDS. About 25% of these individuals do not know they are infected which could potentially lead to the spread of the disease.

“AIDS is one of the greatest humanitarian crises of our time. With over 1 million Americans living with HIV/AIDS, and approximately 38 million people worldwide, this is a problem we cannot ignore,” Rep. Grijalva explains. “Targeted, comprehensive prevention programs are absolutely necessary, and access to services must be uniform across income levels and racial lines.”

A news release from Rep. Grijalva’s office indicates that greater availability of HIV tests, particularly rapid tests kits, can make a significant difference in minimizing the spread of this disease.

The National Association of People With AIDS, in collaboration with the CDC, hosts an annual campaign known as National HIV Testing Day, which ended on June 27.

The theme for this year’s campaign was “Take the test, take control.”

For more information on National HIV Testing Day, or to find a local testing site, click here.