September 25, 2008

Latino HIV Task Force to offer free HIV testing October 15 during National Latino AIDS Awareness Day

The Latino HIV Task Force, a group of health agencies and community organizations, will offer free HIV testing October 15 as part of the sixth annual National Latino AIDS Awareness Day.

The task force will provide tests from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Clínica Santa Cruz, 8345 Long Point Drive.

Hispanics in Houston and Harris County represent 21 percent of the 15,552 HIV infections reported to the Houston Department of Health and Human Services (HDHHS) since 1999. They also make up 17 percent of the 25,222 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 health agencies and community-based organizations that administer HIV and AIDS prevention programs or medical treatment and various community organizations.

For more information, call 713-772-2366.