National Latino AIDS Awareness Day launches 2010 Website.
July 18, 2010
National Latino Aids Awareness Day (NLAAD) has officially launched the unveiling of its new website, http://www.nlaad.org>. The fully bilingual website, both in English and Spanish, holds a wealth of resources ranging from information on Latinos/Hispanics and HIV/AIDS to tools on how to engage Hispanic/Latino communities on a range of events, including HIV testing. The NLAAD campaign works annually at building capacity for non-profit organizations and health departments in order to reach Latino/Hispanic communities, promote HIV testing, provide HIV prevention information and access to care.
This year’s theme – Save a Life, It May be your Own. Get Tested for HIV – speaks to the critical role HIV testing and prevention education plays due to the late testing realities faced by Hispanic/Latino communities. Data from the Center’s for Disease Control (CDC) shows that Latinos/Hispanics progress to AIDS faster than any other racial or ethnic group with 42% being diagnosed with AIDS within 12 months after learning of their positive HIV status compared to 34% late diagnosis among white non Hispanic and 35% among African Americans. NLAAD takes place annually on October 15th, the last day of Hispanic Heritage Month.
NLAAD recognizes the Office of Minority Health and Dr. Garth N. Graham, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Minority Health in the Office of Minority Health at the Department of Health and Human Services for their ongoing leadership and support to promote healthy communities.
About NLAAD: National Latino AIDS Awareness Day was developed by the Latino Commission on AIDS and the Hispanic Federation in partnership with community based organizations, people living with HIV/AIDS, state and regional health departments and others. Partnerships with the media, elected officials, civic and religious leaders, foundations, celebrities and the health care system are forged to raise awareness among Latinos/Hispanics in the United States and territories. To find out more about NLAAD, visit www.nlaad.org.
