AIDS among Latinas has increased 126 percent over the past 10 years according to the Pima County Health Department.
Statistics like these prompted the Cariño y Salud Project to educate Tucson’s Latino community on HIV/AIDS prevention.
“We cannot be silent about this virus any longer,” said Project Coordinator Rafael Vega. “We need to open our eyes and know that this is affecting our people, our culture and our community.”
Pima County Health also reported a 72 percent increase in AIDS cases within the Hispanic community in general due to heterosexual transmission.
Women ages 13-19 have seen an 80 percent increase of new HIV/AIDS cases, and women ages 65 and older have seen a shocking 266 percent increase.
The purpose of this project is to educate Tucson’s Latino community by providing easy and available information on HIV/AIDS and HIV testing. Through these educational programs, the hope is these rising statistics will decrease.
To increase awareness, Cariño y Salud launched a website in July 2008 providing information on HIV and a list of testing sites in Tucson at www.TakeTheTestTucson.org.
Through their “Charlas Entre Nosotras” curriculum they aim to break the barriers of communication between parents and children. These classes, which are held at three of Tucson’s south side high schools, teach students about risky behaviors and how to avoid them. A parenting component is also provided through this program.
“These barriers of communication about sexuality and having a sexual healthy discussion are an issue Latino families face because of the way we were raised,” Vega said.
A public awareness campaign is underway to spread the word. Plastered all over Tucson’s south side, colorful bilingual posters direct readers to several HIV testing sites.
Although testing is not provided at the Cariño y Salud office, the group is working with the Pima County Health Department to provide this service soon.
National Latino AIDS Awareness Day is Oct. 15. Cariño y Salud is holding a community resource fair at Sunnyside High School with a mariachi band at 4:30 p.m. Free HIV testing will be available with free movie tickets going to the first 25 people. Speeches about the importance of HIV/AIDS education will also be given by school officials, including Sunnyside High School Principal Raúl Nido and Pima County Supervisor Ramón Valadez.
