September 24, 2009

The Latino HIV Task Force will offer free HIV tests October 15 in Houston’s east and southwest areas as part of the annual National Latino AIDS Awareness Day.

The task force will provide the tests from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans (AAMA), 204 Clifton, in the city’s east side and at Iglesia Episcopal San Mateo, 6635 Alder Road, in southwest Houston.  

Hispanics in Houston and Harris County represent 21 percent of the 16,393 HIV infections reported to the Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) since 1999. They also make up 17 percent of the 25,644 local AIDS cases reported to the department since the start of the epidemic in 1981.

The task force is comprised of health agencies and community-based organizations that administer HIV and AIDS prevention programs or medical treatment and various community organizations. HDHHS convened the task force in 2002 to help increase education and awareness of HIV, AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases among Hispanics.

For more information, call 713-987-4740 or send an e-mail to latinohtf@hotmail.com.