HIV/AIDS Experts, Advocates Meet in New York To Discuss Impact of Disease on State’s Latino Community
HIV/AIDS experts and advocates are meeting in Albany, N.Y., today and tomorrow to discuss the impact of the epidemic on the state's Latino community, EFE News Service reports. Participants in the meeting, which is called "Reunion Latina 2003: Uniting and Fighting Against AIDS" and was organized by the Latino Commission on AIDS, will exchange information regarding HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services for Latinos. "The purpose is to share strategies, strengthen our commitment and develop action plans that address the devastation AIDS is wreaking in the Latin community," Guillermo Chacon, commission vice president, said. About 300 doctors, educators, AIDS program administrators, researchers, Latinos living with HIV/AIDS and government officials from the cities of New York, Jersey City, Boston, Chicago and Denver are expected to attend the meeting. "New York Latinos are the hardest-hit in the United States," Chacon said, adding, "We represent 9% of the Hispanic population nationwide but 30% of Hispanic AIDS cases." According to EFE, Hispanics represent 12% of New York's population but 31% of the state's AIDS cases (EFE News Service, 3/11).
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