Planned Parenthood Commemorates National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day

New York, NY — In recognition of National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day, part of Hispanic Heritage Month, Planned Parenthood is joining the national call to action for Latinos to take charge of their health by getting tested and learning about HIV. National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day is a nationwide community mobilization campaign seeking to promote HIV testing, fight against HIV stigma, and provide HIV prevention information and access to care among the Latino community.

“Planned Parenthood health centers are proud to offer HIV prevention education and information as well as testing for our patients, including the 500,000 Latinos we serve,” said Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, chief medical officer at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “Across the United States, many people of color are deeply affected by an overwhelming lack of access to health care and health education services due to structural barriers. As such, Latinos are disproportionately affected by HIV. Planned Parenthood remains committed to working with Latinos and their families to prevent HIV/AIDS and improve the quality of, and access to, culturally competent health care and education.”

In the U.S., there are 1.1 million people living with HIV/AIDS, including approximately 264,000 Latinos. According to theU.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Latinos account for 24 percent of new HIV infections and acquire HIV at more than three times the rate of white people.

Reducing HIV transmission rates takes a multi-pronged approach that can include sexually transmitted infections (STIs) education, condom use, increased access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and regular HIV testing. Advancements in HIV prevention and treatment continue to show the importance of such efforts In fact,the CDC announced in September that people who take antiretroviral medications as prescribed and maintain an undetectable viral load “have effectively no risk” of sexually transmitting the virus to others. Planned Parenthood health centers are more likely than other safety-net family planning providers to offer HIV testing on site. Our health centers offer low-cost STI testing throughout the year, and our doors are open to everyone regardless of their income, insurance, or immigration status.

Last year, Planned Parenthood health centers provided more than 650,000 HIV tests. Some health centers also offer HIV prevention tools like PrEP, a daily pill that can help prevent HIV.

Planned Parenthood also offers online tools that can help you take charge of your health, including information on HIVand a short quiz to help people decide if they should get tested for HIV and other STDs.

For more information on where to get tested for HIV, visit plannedparenthood.org.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood affiliates serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.