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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Guillermo Chacón, 212.920.1611 CONGRESS MEMBERS HILDA SOLIS AND NYDIA VELAZQUEZ TOGETHER WITH LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LATINO/HISPANIC LEADERS RELEASE THE CALL TO ACTION AND MOBILIZATION TO ADDRESS THE NATION'S HIV/AIDS PREVENTION AND CARE NEEDS -------- Congressional and Community leaders officially kicks off the 5th Annual National Latino AIDS Awareness Day

WASHINGTON, DC, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26,2007 – Congress Members Hilda Solis and Nydia Velázquez, along with Latino/Hispanic community leaders released the CALL TO ACTION AND MOLBILIZATION to address the HIV/AIDS emergency in Latino/Hispanic communities across the nation including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. With 120 organizations and individuals already signed on to the document, the release came in response to the health emergency caused by the accelerated growth of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Hispanic/Latino communities across the nation. 

"I am proud to join today with advocates in the Latino community who are deeply committed to reversing the epidemic and to announce the Call to Action and Mobilization," said Congresswoman Solis. "We must not forget that Latinos continue to be disproportionately infected by HIV/AIDS. Increasing awareness and prevention of HIV/AIDS is key, but in order to see results, it should be done in a culturally competent manner. I will continue to work in Congress to promote policies to improve the health and well-being of the Latino community."

Congresswoman Velázquez responds to the crisis stating, “It is clear that a discrepancy exists in the care that Latino/Hispanic families are receiving when it comes to HIV/AIDS.  I have been especially concerned with the need to reverse this disturbing trend.  To this end, I have been working with federal officials, state officials and community-based organizations, and pushing for coordinated solutions so that we can be confident that the needs of HIV patients here in the U.S. and in Puerto Rico are being met.”  

The CALL TO ACTION AND MOBILIZATION was announced during an event at the U.S. Capitol which officially kicked off the 5th Annual National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) recognized annually on October 15th. Sponsors included Congressional Representatives, Latino Coalition Against AIDS, BIENESTAR, Hispanic Federation, La Clinica del Pueblo, NASTAD, NMAC, D.C. Latino AIDS Coalition, NLAAD Committee of Northern Virginia, Latino Commission on AIDS, and all other participating agencies.

“Latinos are testing positive for HIV, being diagnosed with AIDS and dying from the disease at four times the rate per 100,000 when compared to Caucasians.  This continued inattention to our needs is unacceptable.
The CALL TO ACTION AND MOBILIZATION is a wake up call to our nation,” said Latino Commission on AIDS President, Dennis de Leon.

The announcement received support from many leaders and calls for more. “NASTAD is committed to raising HIV/AIDS awareness and improving quality of prevention, care and treatment services among Latino communities in the U.S.  The release of this call to action is an opportunity to actualize this commitment,” declared Julie Scofield, Executive Director of the National Alliance of State and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD).

As of 2004, more than 93,000 Latinos in the United States have died as a result of AIDS-related illnesses, and the CDC estimates that more than 80,000 Hispanics are currently infected with AIDS. Over 60% of Latino HIV and AIDS cases are found in California, New York, New Jersey, Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico.  The Latino/Hispanic community has responded to this crisis as a single voice.

“Latinos living with HIV/AIDS, their families, loved ones and friends are uniting around the country with local health departments, elected officials, religious leaders and civic leaders on October 15th to work together in recognition of National Latino AIDS Awareness Day,” stated Lillian Rodriguez, President of Hispanic Federation.

Catalina Sol, HIV/AIDS Department Director at La Clinica del Pueblo in Washington, D.C., states “This year more than ever it is urgent that we renew our commitment to ensure access to HIV care and prevention services for all Latinos, regardless of their immigration status or language ability. Our message to Latinos who are living with HIV and AIDS today is, you are not alone, and we will not be silent about our universal human right to health care.”

HIV testing was offered free of charge on-site during the briefing to highlight the importance of early testing and knowing your status. The HIV testing was made available by the D.C. Department of Health in coordination with La Clinica del Pueblo and Whitman Walker Clinic.

Only united, we will make a difference. “We each bring our own grains of sand in order to contribute toward mutual growth in our work,” expresses the NLAAD coalition of Northern Virginia.
 

The National Latino AIDS Action Agenda is a community effort to create an up-to-date HIV/AIDS public policy and action agenda that identifies the key Latino needs, sets out specific recommendations, mobilizes Latino/Hispanic community leadership and produces an increase in access to services, equity in funding and better quality of life. For more information visit: www.LatinoAIDSagenda.org.

National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD)is commemorated annually on October 15th in over 300 cities and 37 states across the nation and territories, and this year marks the 5th annual observance. NLAAD was founded to galvanize local efforts and to bridge collaboration on HIV testing, awareness and prevention activities. For more information visit: www.nlaad.org.

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