June 9, 2008

The Latino HIV Task Force, a group of health agencies and community organizations, will offer free HIV testing June 27 as part of the annual National HIV Testing Day.The task force will provide tests from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Southwest Multi-Service Center, 6400 High Star.

Hispanics in Houston and Harris County represent 21 percent of the 15,275 HIV infections reported to the Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) since 1999. They also make up 17 percent of the 25,041 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.