Tomorrow is National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD), a day to raise awareness about the impact of HIV on the Hispanic/Latino communities in the United States and help governmental and non-governmental organizations address concerns about widening HIV infection disparities among these populations.

Each year on October 15, NLAAD acknowledges the disproportionate impact of HIV on Hispanic/Latino communities. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), of 36,801 new HIV infections in the United States and dependent areas in 2019, 10,494 (29%) occurred in Hispanic/Latino individuals. Stigma, poverty, and limited access to health care are among the HIV-related challenges facing Hispanic/Latino communities.

The CDC is promoting HIV testing, prevention, and treatment through the Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign, which is part of the national Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative. Also see the CDC report, High-Impact HIV Prevention: CDC’s Approach to Reducing HIV Infections in the United States [PDF]. The only way to know your HIV status is to get tested. Find HIV prevention services, including HIV testing, near you at the CDC HIV Testing webpage.

To learn more, browse the resources on the HIVinfo National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day webpage.