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.