Pictured in the first photo from left to right: Huntington Park Councilman Juan Noguez; Congresswoman Roybal-Allard (CA-34), holding the Huntington Park “Key to the City”; and BIENESTAR Executive Director and CEO Oscar De La O. Pictured in the second photo: BIENESTAR Testing Administrator Sandra Medina and Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard discuss the HIV Rapid Testing Process.
(October 15, 2008) Huntington Park, CA – On National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD), Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard presided as BIENESTAR launched a new rapid mobile HIV testing effort for Greater East Los Angeles and helped raise awareness about the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS in Latino communities throughout the United States.
Representative Roybal-Allard secured federal pilot project funding for the program. According to a recent report by the Federal Center for Disease Control (CDC), Latinos comprised 15 percent of the US population, but accounted for 17 percent of all new HIV infections occurring in 2006. A recent report by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health found approximately 1400 cases in the greater East Los Angeles area, of which Latinos make up 75 percent.
BIENESTAR Executive Director and CEO Oscar De La O explained: “A determining factor in these health disparities is a prevalence of cultural stigmas in the Latino community that lead to homophobia. This prevents individuals from seeking information and testing for HIV/AIDS.”
In following the legacy of her late father Congressman Edward R. Roybal, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) continues efforts to raise awareness and funding for HIV/AIDS services. “I was pleased to secure the federal funds to expand the mobile HIV testing program to bring needed HIV testing and counseling services to hard to reach persons in our East and Southeast Los Angeles communities,” Congresswoman Roybal-Allard said.
The congresswoman also shed light on the misperception of low risk for Latinas. The California Department of Public Health reports that 55 percent of Latina AIDS cases have been transmitted through heterosexual contact.
Huntington Park Councilman Juan Noguez shared his personal experiences with seeking out BIENESTAR counseling services. With 23.2 percent of area residents uninsured, Councilman Noguez stressed the importance of accessible and affordable services to address the disproportionate number of Latino HIV/AIDS cases.
“The BIENESTAR mobile testing units are ideal for reaching out to residents who don’t normally visit the local health clinic for an HIV test,” Councilman Noguez said. The councilman also mentioned the convenience of BIENESTAR centers throughout Southern California, with locations in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego Counties.
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