On World AIDS Day, Hispanic Communities Still Heavily Impacted

On World AIDS Day, we are hopeful that we are on the right path to end AIDS in NYS by 2020. We're seeing an overall decrease in the number of new HIV cases in NYC compared to 2014 and accomplished having less than 2,500 cases. For the first time in the history of the epidemic, there were no HIV infections diagnosed among infants born in NYC and NYS-a major achievement within the overall elimination of mother-to-child-transmission of HIV.

While new diagnoses are down, communities of color continue to be disproportionally affected by HIV and AIDS. Black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) continue to account for a major proportion of new HIV diagnoses among all MSMs -- 71.5 percent of new HIV diagnoses. We have work ahead of us -- especially among Latino and African-American gay and bi men, Trans communities, women and younger adults in our communities.

We need to continue to ensure that our communities are testing for HIV early and that the right messages are reaching our communities to eliminate fears, discrimination, homophobia and transphobia. Assuring that every person who is diagnosed with HIV is connected to treatment and care -- reaching viral suppression of HIV signifies less chances for new infections. We need to continue to create awareness around the availability and accessibility of prevention services.

We need to work together in each city, county, state, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to develop plans to end the AIDS epidemic. As we come together to commemorate those we've lost to AIDS on World AIDS Day it's heartening to see how far we've truly come -- we can end AIDS together.

"Understanding the realities that increase the risk of HIV among both foreign-born and U.S.-born Hispanic/Latinx communities is critical for the development of effective prevention messages, HIV testing strategies and linkages to care, and for addressing stigma, homophobia, transphobia & discrimination. This understanding will result in a successful response to the HIV & AIDS epidemic in our diverse communities," said Guillermo Chacon, President of the Latino Commission on AIDS & Founder of the Hispanic Health Network.

For more information, visit https://www.latinoaids.org/