National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day, Sunday, Oct. 15

Health District encourages Latino community to get tested

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 13, 2017

LAS VEGAS – The Southern Nevada Health District encourages the Valley’s Hispanic residents to learn their HIV status and to get tested as part of National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD), Saturday, Oct. 14. The Southern Nevada HIV Consortium is hosting an event from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada (The Center), 401 S. Maryland Parkway. Free HIV and syphilis testing will be available as well as flu shots, music, entertainment, and a “yard sale.” For more information, contact The Center, (702) 733-9800.

This year’s theme, To Defeat HIV You’re a Superhero. Use Your Superpowers, is conceived as a call to action to Hispanic/Latinos to use their “superpowers” to take an HIV test, consider PrEP as a prevention treatment, use condoms, and to stay in HIV treatment.

NLAAD was founded in 2003 as a joint effort of the Latino Commission on AIDS and Hispanic Federation in response to the impact of HIV/AIDS in Hispanic/Latino communities across the country. It was established to draw attention to the critical role HIV testing and prevention education plays in stemming the spread of HIV/AIDS among Hispanics/Latinos. October 15 was selected to coincide with the last day of Hispanic Heritage Month.

In 2016, Hispanics accounted for 24 percent of people living with HIV, 31 percent of new HIV diagnoses, and 27 percent of AIDS diagnoses in Clark County.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately seven in 10 new HIV diagnoses among Hispanic/Latinos occur in gay and bisexual men. In 2015, Hispanics/Latinos accounted for 24 percent of new diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States and six dependent areas. Of those, 87 percent were men and 12 percent were women. For additional information, visit CDC HIV Among Hispanics/Latinos.

The Sexual Health Clinic offers STD screenings, which include HIV testing; the cost is $40. The Clinic is open 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Friday and it is located at 280 S. Decatur Blvd. For information, call (702) 759-0702. All testing is confidential. HIV/AIDS services provided by the Health District’s Sexual Health Clinic include testing, counseling, case management, outreach efforts, and community referrals.

The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.