“We’ll Defeat AIDS con Ganas” 

Naples, FL. — October 15, 2016 is National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD), a national community mobilization and social marketing campaign that unites the Hispanic/Latino community in efforts to raise HIV awareness, promotion of HIV testing, prevention, and education. In recognition of National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, the Florida Department of Health in Collier County (DOH-Collier) is collaborating with community partners to offer free screenings.

Though only 17.3% of the U.S population, Hispanics/Latinos bear a disproportionate burden of HIV. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2014, Hispanics/Latinos accounted for an estimated 24% of new diagnoses of HIV infection in the United States. Factors such as stigma, language barriers, poverty, and lack of access to health care contribute to Hispanic or Latino HIV infection rates.

Florida ranks 2nd in the nation in the number of newly diagnosed cases of HIV infection. In Collier County alone, we have over 1,700 cumulative reported cases of HIV/AIDS and 26% of those living with HIV in Collier County are of Hispanic/Latino origin. HIV infection is a serious threat to the health of the Latino communities.

For more information about these events, please contact:

DOH-Collier Naples campus: 3339 East Tamiami Trail, Building H, (239) 252-8593

Marion E. Fether Medical Center: 1454 Madison Ave, Immokalee, (239) 658-3000

About the Florida Department of Health

The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board, works to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county and community efforts.

Follow us on Twitter at @HealthyFla and on Facebook. For more information about the Florida Department of Health please visit www.FloridaHealth.gov.