ADVISORY/June 24-28 is HIV Testing Week in Los Angeles - Growing AIDS Crisis Leads County Officials to Target Specific Zip Code Areas for the First Time; Free HIV Testing Events Will Be Held at Several Sites in High Risk Areas Throughout Los Angeles County Business Wire
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ADVISORY/June 24-28 is HIV Testing Week in Los Angeles - Growing AIDS Crisis Leads County Officials to Target Specific Zip Code Areas for the First Time; Free HIV Testing Events Will Be Held at Several Sites in High Risk Areas Throughout Los Angeles County

Business Wire - June 6, 2005

WHAT:

Approximately 57,000 people live with HIV/AIDS in Los Angeles County, including an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 people who are unaware they are infected with the virus, according to the County of Los Angeles, Department of Health Services, Office of AIDS Programs and Policy (OAPP).

To increase HIV counseling, education and testing among high-risk groups, including African-Americans and Latinos, OAPP is sponsoring "HIV Testing Week" in partnership with community health agencies countywide. OAPP and its community partners will target Latinos and African-Americans between ages 18-34 who live in areas with high rates of HIV and AIDS. For example, the highest AIDS case rate in Los Angeles County is among African-Americans living in Skid Row, South Los Angeles, Silver Lake, Hollywood and West Hollywood.

County health officials also hope to raise awareness about the availability of counseling, testing and treatment services for at-risk individuals, including the AIDS Drug Assistance Program, which provides drugs to individuals who do not have insurance coverage for prescription drugs. This year's theme of campaign is "Live life longer...get ahead of HIV."

WHEN:

HIV Testing Week will be held June 24-28. National HIV Testing Day will be observed on Monday, June 27.

WHERE:

Throughout Los Angeles County - visit the OAPP website at www.hivla.org for a complete list of events.

WHY:

In Los Angeles, the HIV epidemic is largely an epidemic among gay and bisexual men of color, particularly among African-American and Latino gay and bisexual men. Yet women are increasingly at risk often through the sexual behavior of their male partners. Some alarming statistics:

-- AIDS kills more young Latino and African-American men than any other disease.

-- African-Americans account for 9.8 percent of the Los Angeles County population, but nearly 21 percent of AIDS cases.

-- The rate of AIDS deaths is, and has been, highest for African-American men every year since 1986 in Los Angeles County

-- The magnitude of AIDS cases among Latinos in Los Angeles County is higher than in other parts of the United States, with 47 percent of new AIDS cases being Latino.

-- African-American women and Latinas account for the majority of new AIDS cases and new HIV infections among women.

-- One hundred percent of children born with AIDS in Los Angeles County from 1999 through 2003 are African-American or Latino/a.

WHO:

Interviews can be arranged at your convenience with any of the following officials to discuss the HIV crisis in Los Angeles, the HIV Testing Week Initiative, and the County's HIV Prevention Plan:

-- Mario J. Perez, Interim Director, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Public Health, Office of AIDS Programs and Policy, (English, Spanish)

-- Gunther Freehill, Director of Public Affairs, OAPP (English)

-- Jan King, M.D., Medical Director, OAPP (English)

-- Paulina Zamudio, Program Supervisor, OAPP (English, Spanish)

-- Carmen Canto, Program Manager, OAPP, (English, Spanish)

CONTACT: For OAPP

BBPR, Inc.

Dienna D'Olimpio, (310) 656-4668 (310) 980-6936

SOURCE: Los Angeles, Department of Health Services, Office of AIDS Programs and Policy


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