Latino Leaders Meet WITH CDC, ASK FOR STRONGER RESPONSE to HIV CRISIS

ATLANTA, GA– (December 15, 2006) On Wednesday December 13th, Latino leaders representing community based organizations from multiple states met with Dr. James Fenton, Director for the National Center for HIV, STD and TB Prevention from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The discussion was centered around the CDC’s response to the increased infections of HIV in the Latino community across the nation. The HIV infection statistics in the Latino community are alarming. Latinos represent one in every five newly diagnosed HIV infections in the U.S.

“The meeting of Latino leaders with the CDC was an essential first step in addressing the needs of the Latino community,” stated Oscar De La O, President & CEO from BIENESTAR. “We look forward to a continued dialogue and a partnership to improve CDC’s response to this health crisis” Stated Dennis De Leon, President of Latino Commission on AIDS; Catalina Sol, Director of HIV Services from Clinica Del Pueblo in Washington, DC stated that "Our delegation was unified in speaking with one voice to Dr. Fenton in hope to a greater response to the AIDS epidemic," Stated members of a National Latino Delegation that meet with Dr. Fenton.

In this historical meeting, among the requests to CDC, Latino leaders sought for the following:
Request for Increased Communication: Dr. Fenton agreed to meet on at least a yearly basis with Latino Leaders. CDC also agreed to identify a liaison that would be the point person for issues related to HIV and Latinos.
Latino Consultation: CDC agreed to come up with a strategy within its strategic plan in which to focus on HIV issues specific to the Latino community. The proposed strategy would include capacity building, epidemiology, leadership involvement, research, and others. This plan would also take into account the diversity of the Latino community and issues such as bilingualism and other social, economic, and cultural issues.
Behavioral research journal: Leaders requested a CDC sponsored a journal to highlight behavioral research for Latinos. The journal would raise the visibility of research challenges concerning Latinos and HIV/AIDS.
Two day Latino social science consultation: Leaders requested that CDC consider funding a two day Latino social science consultation after the National HIV Prevention Conference taking place December 2-5, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia.

CDC agreed to most of the requests and also pledged to focus on Latino participation in the 2007 National HIV Prevention Conference by way of a Latino track and roundtable discussions. The two day Latino social science consultation was not yet confirmed and is being given further consideration.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is one of the thirteen major operating components of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which is the principal agency in the United States government for protecting the health and safety of all Americans through the provision of essential human services.

Community Based Organizations Present Included: Clínica del Pueblo, Washington, DC; BIENESTAR, Southern California; The Latino Commission on AIDS, NY; Salud Latina/Latino Health, Chicago, IL; CPG, Puerto Rico, Mujeres Unidas Contra el SIDA, TX