Few U-Md. Latino students attend free HIV testing event

More awareness is needed to motivate HIV testing among Latinos, activists say

By Brandon Green

Student organizations and activists are worried about Latino HIV awareness after few Latinos came out for free HIV testing during a World AIDS Day event at the University of Maryland.

“I think all minorities should be aware of the affects of HIV and AIDS. It’s an epidemic in this country and is increasing each year for Latinos,” said Anni Jefferson sophomore HIV/AIDS student activist at U-Md.

As the largest minority group in the U.S., Latinos make up 15 percent of the U.S. population – but 18 percent of the HIV/AIDS cases in 2007 according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Latinos are the second largest minority group diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in the U.S. According to a census done in 2007 by the CDC, African Americans are first minority accounting for 51 percent of HIV/AIDS diagnosed followed by Latinos with 18 percent.

Jefferson said, “If you tell the community what is going on they will be better prepared to deal with AIDs. But because they [Latinos] are not the largest minority affected in this country they tend to be overlooked and the community suffers.”

Semeon Tadesse, a sophomore Black Student Union member who helped put the World AIDS Day event together, said, “Whenever HIV is talked about in reference to this country the first minority you here is the African Americans.” Tadesse said because African Americans make up a large part of the HIV/AIDS epidemic it is easy for people to forget the other minorities.

While some Latinos came out to the free HIV testing event, the majority of the 100 tested students were African American students.

Since the beginning of this HIV/AIDS awareness month, U-Md. officials from the health center, which offer HIV testings for about 20 dollars, have tried to urge students to check their HIV status because of the university’s close proximity to D.C. and Baltimore.

D.C and Baltimore are some of the most high risk areas for HIV/AIDS in this country.

“We are going to [U-Md.] in a high risk area, it only seems smart to get tested. This is not a disease you leave up to chance,” said Jessica Beinert a junior biology major.

Langley Park, an area that has a large Latino population near U-Md., has recently reported an increase in HIV/AIDS in the community. This report coming as a result of HIV/AIDS awareness month is the basis for many student activists and organizations concern for Latino HIV/AIDS awareness.

“As Latino students at the University face the same risk to HIV/AIDS as other minorities its only smart for them to take full advantage of the resources while they are under the umbrella of college,” Jefferson said.

Short URL: http://www.lavozlatinaumd.com/?p=308

Posted by admin on Dec 8 2009. Filed under Latinidad. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry