May 23, 2011

The Latino HIV Task Force, a group of health agencies and community organizations, will offer free HIV tests on June 18 as part of the annual National HIV Testing Day.

The task force will provide the tests from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Baker-Ripley Neighborhood Center, 6500 Rookin Street.

Hispanics in Houston and Harris County represent 22 percent of the 18,891 HIV infections reported to the Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) since 1999. They also make up 18 percent of the 27,418 local AIDS cases reported to the department since the start of the epidemic in 1981.

HDHHS convened the task force in 2002 to help increase education and awareness of HIV, AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases among Hispanics.

The task force is comprised of numerous health agencies and community-based organizations that administer HIV and AIDS prevention programs or medical treatment and various community organizations.

For more information, call 713-987-4740 or email latinohtf@hotmail.com.