Latino Commission on AIDS Launches Campaign for National Latino AIDS Awareness Day
(NY, NY) – Carmen Dominicci, journalist, former host of Univision’s Primer Impacto and a Madrina of the Latino Commission on AIDS, has launched this year’s promotional campaign for National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, celebrated each year on October 15th. This year’s theme, “United We Can Stop HIV and Prevent AIDS” -- Unidos Podemos Detener el VIH y Prevenir el SIDA, speaks to the importance of working together as a united community to foster collaboration and improve the accessibility of quality HIV/AIDS services to Hispanic/Latino communities throughout the U.S. Dominicci, who joined the Commission as a Madrina in May, launched the campaign to recruit participants and volunteers, as well as encourage individuals to get tested for HIV as a critical step toward prevention.
Background
In 2007, Hispanics represented 15.3% of the U.S. population (U.S. Census Bureau), but accounted for 19% of Latinos living with AIDS and now are reported to be 18% of those living with an undiagnosed HIV infection (Centers for Disease Control). Limited access to prevention and care, cultural barriers, language barriers, and immigration status contribute to this disparity. In its 7th year, National Latino AIDS Awareness Day has demonstrated to be an effective tool to increase awareness and prevention within Latino communities. In 2008, NLAAD solidified support from 380 partners who together organized 160 events in 101 cities across the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
UNIDOS PODEMOS/UNITED WE CAN
WWW.LATINOAIDS.ORG
