Created by the Latino Commission on AIDS, National Latino AIDS Awareness Day is observed each year on October 15 to increase HIV/AIDS awareness within the Latino population. With Latinos being three times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV than non-Hispanic whites, AltaMed would like to help educate our communities and continue the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) weakens a person’s immune system by destroying important cells that fight disease and infection within your body. Additionally, it’s likely that HIV can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The human body can’t get rid of HIV completely even with treatment, so this virus stays with you for the rest of your life. However, HIV can be controlled with the right medication or treatment.

What Can You Do?
 

• Learn the Facts: Make sure you’re educated on HIV/AIDS and be sure to share any life-saving information with your friends and family.
• Get tested: Testing is the only way to know your HIV status. At AltaMed, getting tested for HIV is a simple, confidential and private process offered at all of our HIV services locations. We use the HIV Rapid Test at specific locations, which means you can find out your results in just 20 minutes. You have the option to make an appointment, walk into one of our clinics, or visit our mobile testing unit, which travels throughout Los Angeles.
• Protect yourself and partner: You and your partner can do plenty of things to ensure you are safe, including: using condoms while having sex, limiting your number of sexual partners and speaking with your doctor about prevention medication if you are at high risk.
• Get medical care if you need: If you have HIV, see your doctor and start treatment immediately. You can begin antiretroviral therapy (ART), which can reduce the amount of HIV you have in your body.

On our website, you can find educational resources about the HIV and AIDS health care services we offer, including specialty care, case management, treatment, prevention programs, one-on-one counseling, and more. For more information or if you have questions, feel free to give us a call at (323) 869-5448, or to visit our site click here.