2007 National Latino AIDS Awareness Day
Open Letter to the Community: 2007 National Latino AIDS Awareness Day
In July 2004, the State of Florida’s Health Department formed the State of Florida Latino Leaders Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS. This body is organized under Florida’s Bureau of HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this advisory committee is to bring the voices of Latino leaders together in an advisory role to discuss and address issues facing HIV prevention and care services in Florida’s Hispanic-Latino communities. The committee is composed of Hispanic-Latinos from across the state and includes representation from persons living with HIV or AIDS, community-based organizations (CBOs), treatment providers, community advocates, and the Department of Health. The committee participates in several conference calls and face-to-face consultations with the state. Members meet with statewide planning bodies to share issues and recommendations that are being addressed for inclusion in statewide comprehensive prevention and patient care plans.
The Florida Department of Health estimates that 88,000-102,000 Floridians are living with HIV infection from which approximately 1 in 176 is Hispanic compared to 1 in 346 being white. From the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, the minority community has been affected by the virus. For far too long the issue of HIV/AIDS has been an unacceptable public topic in the Hispanic community. I believe it is appropriate for Latinos to openly address the barriers to prevention which include: late diagnosis of HIV or AIDS, incarceration, drug use via injection, risky sexual behaviors, HIV/AIDS conspiracy theories, stigma, denial, discrimination, homophobia, apathy, etc.
We must educate local, state, and federal partners, community leaders, businesses, media and legislators on HIV/AIDS issues impacting Florida’s Hispanic-Latino community. The Bureau of HIV/AIDS credited the advisory committee for designating a Statewide Latino AIDS Coordinator to help reduce HIV/AIDS among Hispanic-Latinos. The position is located at the Miami-Dade County Health Department and reports to the Statewide Minority AIDS Coordinator located in Tallahassee. Another major success is that testing among Hispanic males increased by 57.5% between 2000 and 2004, and testing among females increased by 97.3%. Lastly, the state has put several of our recommendations into action which resulted in policy and procedural changes in the Bureau of HIV/AIDS.
Above all, we must develop good relationships and healthy discussions on safe sex. HIV/AIDS is an issue that is not exclusive to any one community of people. It must be the goal of every one of us to understand the disease that is HIV/AIDS. In order to end the epidemic, we must develop a social consciousness with which we can eradicate AIDS.
In the final analysis, it is up to each of us to take a stand and work in a concerted effort to bring HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention to the forefront. If one person is infected and affected with HIV/AIDS then we are all infected and affected. This year marks 26 years of the AIDS epidemic which has reached pandemic proportions. National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) is Monday, October 15, 2007. The Alachua County Health Department will sponsor Free STD, Hepatitis and Rapid HIV Testing on the 15th from 5:30pm until 8pm. Rapid Testing takes 20 minutes to administer and involves an Orasure swab. Results for Rapid Testing take 20 minutes. For more information contact Teresa Parker, Regional Minority AIDS Coordinator at (352) 334-7900 x3335. I strongly encourage all to get educated, get tested, and get involved! For more information on NLAAD visit http://nlaad.org/.
Until the End of HIV/AIDS,
David J. Ruiz
Member, Florida Latino Leaders Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS (July 2004-June 2007)
Open Letter to the Community: 2007 National Latino AIDS Awareness Day
In July 2004, the State of Florida’s Health Department formed the State of Florida Latino Leaders Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS. This body is organized under Florida’s Bureau of HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this advisory committee is to bring the voices of Latino leaders together in an advisory role to discuss and address issues facing HIV prevention and care services in Florida’s Hispanic-Latino communities. The committee is composed of Hispanic-Latinos from across the state and includes representation from persons living with HIV or AIDS, community-based organizations (CBOs), treatment providers, community advocates, and the Department of Health. The committee participates in several conference calls and face-to-face consultations with the state. Members meet with statewide planning bodies to share issues and recommendations that are being addressed for inclusion in statewide comprehensive prevention and patient care plans.
The Florida Department of Health estimates that 88,000-102,000 Floridians are living with HIV infection from which approximately 1 in 176 is Hispanic compared to 1 in 346 being white. From the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, the minority community has been affected by the virus. For far too long the issue of HIV/AIDS has been an unacceptable public topic in the Hispanic community. I believe it is appropriate for Latinos to openly address the barriers to prevention which include: late diagnosis of HIV or AIDS, incarceration, drug use via injection, risky sexual behaviors, HIV/AIDS conspiracy theories, stigma, denial, discrimination, homophobia, apathy, etc.
We must educate local, state, and federal partners, community leaders, businesses, media and legislators on HIV/AIDS issues impacting Florida’s Hispanic-Latino community. The Bureau of HIV/AIDS credited the advisory committee for designating a Statewide Latino AIDS Coordinator to help reduce HIV/AIDS among Hispanic-Latinos. The position is located at the Miami-Dade County Health Department and reports to the Statewide Minority AIDS Coordinator located in Tallahassee. Another major success is that testing among Hispanic males increased by 57.5% between 2000 and 2004, and testing among females increased by 97.3%. Lastly, the state has put several of our recommendations into action which resulted in policy and procedural changes in the Bureau of HIV/AIDS.
Above all, we must develop good relationships and healthy discussions on safe sex. HIV/AIDS is an issue that is not exclusive to any one community of people. It must be the goal of every one of us to understand the disease that is HIV/AIDS. In order to end the epidemic, we must develop a social consciousness with which we can eradicate AIDS.
In the final analysis, it is up to each of us to take a stand and work in a concerted effort to bring HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention to the forefront. If one person is infected and affected with HIV/AIDS then we are all infected and affected. This year marks 26 years of the AIDS epidemic which has reached pandemic proportions. National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) is Monday, October 15, 2007. The Alachua County Health Department will sponsor Free STD, Hepatitis and Rapid HIV Testing on the 15th from 5:30pm until 8pm. Rapid Testing takes 20 minutes to administer and involves an Orasure swab. Results for Rapid Testing take 20 minutes. For more information contact Teresa Parker, Regional Minority AIDS Coordinator at (352) 334-7900 x3335. I strongly encourage all to get educated, get tested, and get involved! For more information on NLAAD visit http://nlaad.org/.
Until the End of HIV/AIDS,
David J. Ruiz
Member, Florida Latino Leaders Advisory Committee on HIV/AIDS (July 2004-June 2007)
posted by David J. Ruiz | 6:46:00 PM
1 Comments:
David is asking you to tune into 1430 AM Radio Station (Gainesville), Sat. Oct 13th @ 1:30pm to hear him talk about Nat’l Latino AIDS Awareness Day which is Oct 15th. Get Tested!
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