UPDATED ON 07/19/2007
Contact Person:
Guillermo Chacon, Latino Commission on AIDS
(212) 920-1611
Mario Guerrero, Bienestar
626.628.5219

The National latino AIDS delegation Meets for the second time WITH The CdC to ASK FOR a comprehensive strategy to aDdress the impact of HIV/AIDS in latino/Hispanic communities

On Thursday July 12, The National Latino AIDS Delegation composed of Latinos and Latinas representing community based organizations from multiple states along with Latinos working for key statewide bodies and representatives from national organizations met with Dr. Kevin Fenton. Dr. Fenton the Director of the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention met with the delegation in Atlanta, Georgia, to follow up with the CDC’s response to the increased infections of HIV in Hispanic/Latino communities.  The CDC introduced the newly created Hispanic/Latino Executive Committee to the National Latino AIDS Delegation. This Committee will be in charge of organizing activities and for coordinating a better response to the impact of HIV/AIDS in Latino communities. The Executive Committee is chaired by Dr. Raul Romaguera, Associate Director for Prevention in Care in the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention. Many of the recommendations presented in the first meeting held December 13, 2006 by the national delegation are currently in the process of being implemented.

“This second meeting shows progress in the right direction in addressing the diverse needs of the Latino communities impacted by HIV/AIDS,” stated Catalina Sol, HIV/AIDS Department Director at La Clinica del Pueblo in Washington, DC.  “We look forward to continue working with the CDC to address the diverse needs of our communities,” stated Oscar De la O, CEO of BIENESTAR in Los Angeles. Dennis De Leon, President of the Latino Commission on AIDS, stated that "Our delegation recognizes Dr. Fenton’s leadership in putting forward a comprehensive response to the second most affected community by HIV/AIDS in the United States. We will continue working to develop a National Latino AIDS Action Agenda which will outline short and long term strategies to address HIV/AIDS in the United States."

The national delegation met with several CDC Division representatives who introduced several efforts in place to address the emergent need of Latinos/Hispanics, as framed by the national delegation during their last December, 2006 meeting".

Among some of the actions in motion in response to the impact of AIDS in Latino communities are:

  • Ongoing communication.  Dr. Fenton recommitted to meet twice a year with the National Delegation.  The Delegation will maintain an ongoing communication with the Hispanic/Latino Executive Committee of the CDC.
  • Latino consultation.  The CDC will conduct a National Latino consultation in 2007 to better understand how best to address the needs of Latino communities. This consultation will contribute in shaping a comprehensive strategy that will include prevention, capacity building, epidemiology, leadership involvement, research, among others.  Members of the National Latino AIDS Delegation will participate with others in the planning process.
  • Satellite Broadcast and Webcast: For the first time, on Thursday, November 15th the CDC will air a broadcast on Hispanic/Latinos entitled:   “Current Challenges and Successes in HIV Prevention with Hispanic/Latinos” The goal of this forum is to raise awareness about the impact of HIV/AIDS on Hispanics/Latinos in the United States and Puerto Rico.  The forum will gather a panel of experts that will address questions from viewers. Broadcast info:www.cdcnpin-broadcast.org or Internet Webcast: www2a.cdc.gov/phtn
  • Special Issue of a Peer Reviewed Journal on Hispanic/Latinos and HIV/AIDS Prevention:  The Delegation was briefed on plans for a special journal of issues related to HIV prevention in the Latino community.
  • Development of a Plan of Action. CDC is developing a Plan of Action that will address key prevention needs for Latinos and Latinas along with identification of program and research gaps.

The National Latino AIDS Delegation will continue enhancing the partnership, dialogue and collaboration with the CDC to respond to the impact of HIV/AIDS in Hispanic/Latino communities, epidemic devastating communities of color across the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.


The National Latino AIDS Delegation: La Clínica del Pueblo, Washington, DC; BIENESTAR, Southern California; The Latino Commission on AIDS, New York; Salud Latina/Latino Health, Chicago, IL; CPG, Puerto Rico, Mujeres Unidas Contra el SIDA, San Antonio, TX, Florida Health Department, NASTAD Latino Advisory, Latin American Health Institute, Boston, MA


www.latinoaAIDSagenda.org