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October 15 Is National Latino AIDS Awareness Day

Saturday, October 15, 2011, has been designated National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, providing an opportunity to educate the community and encourage HIV testing and timely treatment.

According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 20% of all new HIV infections in 2009 were among Latinos, who make up 16% of the nation’s population.

At a recent Capitol Hill briefing to kick off NLAAD, Timothy Harrison, Program Analyst with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Office of HIV/AIDS Policy, highlighted efforts outlined in the National HIV/AIDS Strategy to address and reduce the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS in Hispanic/Latino communities.

These include the 12 Cities Project, which is unfolding in the 12 U.S. jurisdictions with the nation’s highest AIDS case rates, and activities across the DHHS supported by the Secretary’s Minority AIDS Initiative Fund, Harrison noted in a Aids.gov blog posting last week.

"Reducing HIV/AIDS-related stigma may increase the number of Latinos who get tested and are aware of their HIV status," he wrote. "In addition, a recent study of Latinos in the Southeast concluded that Latinos are more likely to initiate care later in the course of illness than are black and white persons. For Latinos living with HIV/AIDS, reducing the stigma can help them to seek HIV care and treatment sooner and remain in care."

This year’s NLAAD theme is Latinos Unite! Let's stay Healthy! Get Tested for HIV!The awareness campaign is spearheaded by the Latino Commission on AIDS (LCOA), in collaboration with the Hispanic Federation and many other organizations.

NLAAD Resources:

National Latino AIDS Awareness Day information and resources: http://www.nlaad.org.

CDC fact sheet -- HIV among Hispanics/Latinos: http://cdc.gov/hiv/hispanics/index.htm

Twitter hashtag is #NLAAD.

10/14/11

Sources

National Latino AIDS Awareness Day. http://www.nlaad.org.

T Harrison. Capitol Hill Briefing Kicks Off Countdown to National Latino AIDS Awareness Day. Aids.gov.blog. October 11, 2011.