LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Nationwide Latino AIDS Consciousness Day goals to extend consciousness of HIV and AIDS within the Hispanic neighborhood within the Las Vegas valley.
In Clark County, the Hispanic neighborhood made up about 30% of individuals residing with HIV in 2023, based on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. As well as, new information reveals HIV diagnoses elevated from 2023 to 2024, emphasizing the necessity for consciousness and testing.
“This is often due to a late diagnosis of HIV, which means that individuals have had HIV for a while before it progresses to AIDS or stage 3 HIV,” Raychel Holbert, well being educator with Southern Nevada Well being District, mentioned.
SNHD and The LGBTQ Heart educators are stressing the significance of normal testing. The CDC recommends that everybody ages 13 and older get examined a minimum of as soon as of their lifetime.
“Many people are living with HIV and have no idea. All the while, their bodies are being impacted by it,” Kiande Jakada, HIV well being educator, mentioned.
On Saturday, Oct. 18, the Well being District is providing free HIV testing on the fifteenth Annual Massive Oh Group Well being Truthful on the East Las Vegas Group Heart.
“We want to meet people where they’re at,” Holbert mentioned. “A large number of Hispanic and Latino people live in East Las Vegas, and we want to make HIV testing convenient for them.”
Holbert mentioned HIV continues to disproportionately have an effect on Hispanic communities partly attributable to stigmas and different limitations.
“There’s still a lot of fear and misconceptions surrounding HIV, which prevents people from getting tested, getting into treatment, and staying in care if they are HIV positive,” Holbert mentioned.
Language limitations and restricted entry to medical health insurance are additionally making it more durable for some to get examined and handled. However specialists say prevention begins with taking step one.
“Regular testing is important, using barrier methods such as condoms, PrEP, and communication, so talking to your partner about HIV, and getting into care if your test result is reactive,” Holbert mentioned.
“Everyone has an HIV status and it’s best to know what yours is,” Jakada mentioned. “The earlier you know, the better it is for you to maintain and be healthy.”
The Group Well being Truthful will happen from 11 a.m. to three p.m. The Well being District additionally gives free specific testing on the Southern Nevada Well being District Predominant Public Well being Heart on Decatur, from 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday by Thursday.
No-cost specific testing can be out there on the Fremont Public Well being Heart on Fremont Road every Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. You have to be asymptomatic.
The Well being District’s Collect2Protect program gives free at-home HIV exams, giving folks a handy and personal choice for testing. The kits could be requested by the Collect2Protect web page.
For extra data on out there HIV providers and sources, click on right here.
