Latino Commission on AIDS Honors World AIDS Day

“Despite advances in prevention, detection and treatment of HIV/AIDS, communities of color continue to be adversely affected by this terrible disease. More specifically, Latinos continue to become infected and die from HIV/AIDS at disproportionate rates. Overall, Latinos represent 20 percent of all HIV cases while only accounting for 14 percent of the U.S. population. As of December 2004, there have been 177,164 AIDS cases among Latinos in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Latinos continue to see an increase in HIV infections:

– Latinas, often the victims of sexism and machismo, now account for 25 percent of all Latino infections, as compared to only 2 percent in 1981.

– Latina intravenous drugs users are five times more likely to have AIDS than their White counterparts. Latino men who are intravenous drug users are 10 times more likely than White drug users to have AIDS.

– Latino men who have sex with men are three times more likely to test positive for HIV than White men who have sex with men.

– Heterosexual Latino men are 10 times more likely to test positive than their White counterparts. Latina heterosexuals are 7 times more likely than their White counterparts to be infected with HIV.

– Latino teens in the United States make up 19 percent of the national teenage population ages 13 to 19, but account for 20 percent of the cumulative AIDS cases.

Latino communities need to educate their families and friends to learn the facts about HIV transmission in order to protect one another. To properly address these needs, increased private and governmental funding are needed to go towards prevention, treatment and harm reduction programs culturally and linguistically tailored for Latinos.

Furthermore, Latinos need to fight stigma and discrimination that still exist in Latino communities around the HIV virus, the HIV test and homophobia. These barriers continue to impede success in curbing infections among nuestra familia.

Congress needs to renew the Ryan White CARE Act, a Federal bill that appropriates funding to states for critical treatment and services to people living with HIV/AIDS. Latinos need to mobilize community leaders, activists and HIV/AIDS providers in order to achieve a bill that is adequately funded to meet the increasing needs of people living with HIV/AIDS in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands.

The Latino Commission on AIDS also recognizes HIV/AIDS to be a pandemic that has no borders. The Commission urges the U.S. and governments of Latin American countries to address human rights issues that are barriers to testing and access to essential medical services.”

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