The New York City's Health Department wants to make all Bronx adults go through an HIV test every three years through "The Bronx Knows" campaign it will launch Friday. The push for the voluntary medical test is because of Bronx's unusually high death rates from AIDS among all boroughs in the U.S.

To ensure widespread availability of testing facilities, 40 emergency rooms and storefront clinics would provide voluntary testing procedure. Dr. Thomas Friden, the city's health commissioner, explained than anyone admitted to an emergency room for other ailments would be asked if they are willing to undergo an HIV test as well.

The prevalence of poverty in Bronx has prevented its residents from availing of the HIV test, although it still enjoys the highest testing rate among all boroughs at 69 percent compared to Manhattan's 64 percent and Brooklyn's 56 percent. Early detection of the HIV virus could prevent it from becoming a full blown AIDS case if given medication.

Bronx has 1.3 million residents. Forty percent or 830,000 of its adult population between the ages 18 to 64 underwent HIV testing in 2007. But the remaining 250,000 residents, whom the city wants to reach, have never taken the HIV exam. The city will shoulder the $12 cost of the laboratory test, said Dr. Monica Sweeney, city assistant health commissioner for HIV Prevention and Control.

Frieden, in a statement, said, "This effort will set a model not only for the city but for the whole country... HIV testing helps citizens act responsibly toward their partners, and take steps to preserve their own lives as well."

Some residents have given support to the program. Several sectors even asked that it be extended to the rest of New York City. Other residents have expressed apprehension it would reinforce the stereotype of Bronx as an unsafe community.