Statement of Cristina V. Beato, M.D. Regarding National Latino AIDS Awareness Day

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

October 12, 2006
STATEMENT OF CRISTINA V. BEATO, MD, FORMER ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF HEALTH, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES, ON NATIONAL LATINO AIDS AWARENESS DAY, OCTOBER 15, 2006

"Knowledge is power, Get the facts, Get tested for HIV," is the message of the fourth annual National Latino AIDS Awareness Day occurring on October 15, 2006. Together with national, regional, and local HIV/AIDS groups, I am proud to be a part of this important day. National Latino AIDS Awareness Day is an opportunity to thank religious and community leaders, people living with HIV/AIDS, scientists, health care workers, educators, advocates and others, who are working to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS. It is a day to encourage Latinos across the country to get tested for HIV and to educate on ways people can protect themselves from becoming infected with HIV. This year marks the 25th anniversary of HIV/AIDS and while we know a lot about HIV/AIDS, we still do not have a cure. Unfortunately, the number of people with HIV/AIDS continues to grow. Even though Latinos only make up about 14% of the U.S. population, they account for 19% of the AIDS cases in the U.S. since the start of the epidemic. In 2004, Latinos accounted for 20% of the new AIDS cases in the U.S.

Two weeks ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new testing guidelines for Americans. These new guidelines recommend that all Americans aged 13-64 get tested for HIV as part of their routine health care. HIV testing is one of the most important tools we have in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In honor of National Latino AIDS Awareness Day many organizations across the country are offering free, anonymous HIV testing and counseling. I strongly encourage all Latinos to be tested and learn your status.

While testing is one key step in stopping the spread of HIV, we also need to better inform people about ways they can protect themselves from getting HIV/AIDS. One successful approach in preventing HIV is the "ABC" approach. The "A" stands for abstinence and our first priority is to encourage young people to abstain and delay their first sexual activity. The "B" stands for "be faithful." For people who are already involved in a relationship, we encourage them to be monogamous, that is to only be with that one partner. Finally, the "C" stands for condom use-we encourage people who do not practice "A" or "B" to use condoms every time they have sex and to use them correctly. The "ABC" approach offers our best hope for ending the spread of HIV/AIDS.

National Latino AIDS Awareness Day is a call to action to leaders in the Latino community and beyond. As a community and as a nation, we need to continue our efforts to increase HIV/AIDS awareness and testing among Latinos in order to save lives "Knowledge is power, Get the facts, Get tested for HIV."

For more information please visit:

• http://www.nlaad.org/
• http://www.omhrc.gov/hivaidsobservances/latino/index.html
• http://www.nlaad-la.org/

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Dr. Beato is the former Acting Assistant Secretary of Health
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in Bethesda, Maryland

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