Next Monday, December 1, is World AIDS Day, a date of importance for our community, taking into account that infection with HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, continues to affect us disproportionately. Although the number of cases has been decreasing, our infection rate has increased relative to other sectors of the population.
“In 2017, when I started working at the Latino Commission on AIDS,” explains Luis Alberto Mares, Director of Community Mobilization of that organization, which is part of the Hispanic Federation, “the Latino community was already disproportionately affected, but not as much as it is now. Then we were 19 percent of the population of the United States, and Latinos made up 21 percent of new HIV diagnoses. According to the most recent official statistics, which are from 2023, that rate of new cases in the Latino population has risen to 34 percent. An increase of 13 percent in eight years is enormous, taking into account that in other sectors of the population infection rates decline.
According to the federal agency Centers for Disease Control, known by its initials in English, CDC, the new infections mainly affect Hispanic gay men and heterosexual Latina women. But Mares warns that no one should let their guard down.
“This is a problem that should concern the entire Latin community,” he details. “HIV/AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease, so anyone who has sex should anticipate the possibility of infection. It is true that the gay community is the most affected, but we are not talking about a disease that is determined by sexual orientation or gender identity. Depending on the circumstances, anyone can become infected.”
The factors that most influence our high infection rate are poverty, lack of knowledge and information, lower English language skills, and people’s immigration status.
“The undocumented population,” explains Mares, “does not have access to comprehensive health care due to lack of health insurance. At the same time, the language barrier prevents many immigrants from receiving and understanding all messages that are not in Spanish. Furthermore, in our community there are still many people who automatically associate HIV with the gay community, or with drug users. So they do not get tested because others may think that they are gay or that they use drugs.”
The massive immigration raids have aggravated the problem because the undocumented population tries to leave as little as possible and, of course, distrusts any management with public organizations, such as clinics and hospitals.
Regarding this last fear, it is vitally important to clarify that the HIV test and its results are absolutely confidential. This is privileged information, which is not disseminated or shared with anyone.
The test constitutes a fundamental protection against contagion during sexual relations of any type. It is true that today we have medications that prevent HIV infection from turning into AIDS, a syndrome for which there is no cure. It is also true that there are treatments that prevent infected people from transmitting the virus. And others that make it possible for infected people to live like others with chronic health problems. But none of that is possible if the infection is not detected as soon as possible. And the way to do that is through HIV testing.
“To get tested free and confidential, people can consult with health professionals,” Luis Mares ends by saying. “And if you reside in New York City you can call us at the Latino Commission on AIDS, at (212) 675-3288 or visit www.latinosaids.org”.
Those who live outside the city can consult www.hiv.org or search on the federation website other agencies that perform that test.
Celebrate with us the 35th anniversary of the Hispanic Federation, and until the next column!
Frankie Miranda is the president of the Hispanic Federation