Press Release
OCTOBER 15th, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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CONTACT: Lindsay
Hodges
PHONE:(850) 245-4111
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Tallahassee — The
Florida Department of Health
(DOH) recognizes October 15,
2004 as National Latino AIDS
Awareness Day. This
observance demonstrates the
department’s commitment to
increasing HIV/AIDS
awareness in Florida’s
Latino communities,
increasing efforts to reduce
new infections and providing
care and treatment for those
living with HIV/AIDS. On
this important day, Latinos
and all Floridians are
encouraged to learn more
about HIV, about how the
disease is transmitted and
how it can be prevented.
This year’s theme is “Abre
Los Ojos: El VIH No Tiene
Fronteras” (“Open your Eyes:
HIV Has No Borders.”)
“National Latino AIDS Awareness Day provides an important
opportunity to focus
attention on the seriousness
of this disease in our
Latino communities,” DOH
Secretary John O. Agwunobi,
M.D., M.B.A., M.P.H. said.
“I commend our Latino
leaders and community
organizations for their
ongoing efforts to increase
HIV/AIDS awareness and
ensure a healthier outcome
for Latinos infected with
this disease.”
DOH estimates that one in 176 Hispanics in Florida has HIV
compared to one in 346
whites. As many as one in
four people in Florida who
are living with HIV do not
know they are infected.
Early diagnosis is critical
in the effective treatment
of HIV and in our efforts to
stop the spread of this
disease.
Testing and prevention remain key components in stopping the
spread of HIV. Being tested
is an essential first step
in obtaining treatment.
Testing also enables
infected individuals to take
the steps necessary to
protect their partners from
infection. The new rapid HIV
test, which gives
preliminary results in
approximately 20 minutes, is
now available. However,
Latinos are more likely than
whites to test late in their
illness, when life-extending
antiretroviral treatments
might not be as effective.
DOH and local county health departments partner with numerous
community-based
organizations throughout the
state to provide
confidential and convenient
testing locations and
appointment times. This
helps to ensure people
return for test results and
counseling. While it is
important on National Latino
AIDS Awareness Day to make
testing accessible and
available to as many people
as possible, it is equally
important to provide
high-quality prevention
counseling and risk
assessment to ensure that
those tested learn their HIV
status.
Once people learn they are infected with HIV, they are linked
directly into primary
medical care, social support
systems and other services
that can help them live
long, productive lives.
The Bureau of HIV/AIDS has implemented a number of
initiatives to reach
Latinos. Recently, the
bureau formed a Florida
Latino Advisory Committee to
bring the voices of Latino
leaders together in an
advisory role to discuss and
address issues they are
facing in receiving HIV
prevention and care services
in their communities.
For more information about HIV/AIDS visit
www.doh.state.fl.us.
For a complete list of
events in your area, contact
your local county health
department.
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