Today is National Latino AIDS Awareness Day

By Barrett White

According to the CDC, nearly one quarter of all new HIV diagnoses in the United States were among Latino individuals, and yet Latino people make up only 3% of those receiving PrEP, the pill to prevent HIV, according to the CDC’s current estimates.

Launched in 2009, Greater Than AIDS is an organization that promotes knowledge and awareness of AIDS prevention and treatment to the communities that stand to benefit from it the most. Prevention is key, and to help the community better understand what PrEP is, where to find it, and how to afford it, the Greater Than AIDS site offers educational testimonial videos in both English and Spanish.

PrEP is a powerful HIV prevention tool that, when combined with other prevention methods, can greatly reduce a person’s risk of acquiring HIV. PrEP is taken just once a day and has been shown to reduce a person’s risk for HIV by more than 90% when taken on a daily basis.

If you are unsure of your HIV status, Legacy recommends getting tested at any one of our locations across Houston. Our tests are quick and are free for high-risk individuals. For more information about PrEP or to get started, visit us here.