National Latino AIDS Awareness Day: October 15

SABER ES PODER, INFÓRMATE, HAZTE LA PRUEBA DEL VIH Knowledge is Power, Get the Facts, Get Tested for HIV

Latinos account for 18 percent of all of the AIDS cases reported since the beginning of the epidemic, but only make up 17 percent of the population. Latinos also make up 20 percent of all new AIDS cases reported in 2003, and for people ages 35–44, it is the third leading cause of death.

October 15 is National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD). The observance marks an opportunity to spread awareness of the devastating and disproportionate effects AIDS is having in the Latino community.

In support of NLAAD, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is hosting this Awareness Day Web site, which offers information on prevention, testing, treatment, and vaccine research.

If you are looking for a testing location, planning a local event, trying to craft public-awareness messages, want to work with your local media, or need educational materials such as posters, public service announcements, or fact sheets, you will find resources and answers to many of your questions here.

NLAAD is sponsored by the Latino Commission on AIDS and the Hispanic Federation in partnership with a variety of local faith and community groups. For more information, visit www.nlaad.org. For additional information, visit this federal resource from AIDSinfo: http://aidsinfo.nih.gov/other/specialityPage.aspx?pageID=4.