National Latino AIDS Awareness Day Press Statement

Statement of Admiral Joxel Garcia, Assistant Secretary for Health on National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, October 15, 2008

Today is National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD), which is designed to increase awareness of the devastating and disproportionate effects of HIV/AIDS in the Latino community. NLAAD also encourages HIV testing and supports connecting those living with HIV to care and treatment.

New data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that Hispanics/Latinos, who represent only 15 percent of the total U.S. population, make up 17 percent of new HIV infections and 18 percent of those living with HIV. Among Latinos, men make up the vast majority of new HIV infections (76 percent), but Latino women are also at disproportionate risk for HIV. They are infected with HIV at a rate four times greater than white women.

We encourage all Americans to learn about HIV prevention, testing, and care. For more information about HIV/AIDS and Hispanics/Latinos, visit the National Latino HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Web site www.nlaad.org.

For more information on Latinos and HIV/AIDS please go to www.AIDS.gov. To locate an HIV testing center near you visit, www.HIVtest.org, or send a text message with your ZIP code to "KNOWIT" (566948).