The Times of Trenton
November 4, 2009
Leonor Tapia

Planned Parenthood Association of the Mercer Area recently joined hundreds of organizations across the nation to promote and provide HIV testing and information in recognition of National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, a nationwide community mobilization campaign seeking to raise the visibility of HIV/AIDS within the Latino community.

Raising awareness in the Latino community is important because, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HIV/AIDS is the No. 4 killer of Latinos aged 35 to 44 in the United States. Latinos are the least likely population group in the U.S. to be insured and, as a result, they do not receive necessary testing and services. That is why Latinos are more likely than whites and African Americans to learn of their HIV status late in their disease progression.

But there is hope -- and help. Planned Parenthood is proud to offer rapid HIV testing at our Trenton health center, as well as low-cost condoms at all of our health centers in Mercer County. We also offer HIV/AIDS information and education. These services are available to all members of our community.

As we recently celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month, let us also recommit ourselves to the fight against HIV/AIDS.

-- LEONOR TAPIA, Trenton

The writer is bilingual community outreach coordinator for Planned Parenthood Assoc. of the Mercer Area.