Press Release Date: 04/01/2006
Contact Information
Heriberto Sanchez Soto, Executive Director
Tel: (212) 563-4500

FOR IMMEDIATE REALEASE

The Hispanic AIDS Forum (HAF) launched a new-targeted social marketing initiative today aimed at encouraging young Spanish-speaking gay and bisexual men to get tested for HIV. The campaign, entitled 'Me Hice la Prueba, Con Orgullo (I Got Tested, with Pride),' is a five-month drive using national identity in print and radio advertising, posters, community outreach and special events to promote HIV testing, especially among Latino groups known to have had large increases of newly diagnosed with HIV. Heriberto Sanchez Soto, HAF's Executive Director, said the city's recent efforts to promote HIV testing on a regular basis only highlight the fact that more people at risk need to get tested. The latest NYC Department of Health report, states that the proportion of new HIV diagnosis accounted by gay and bisexual men increased from 30.5% to 37.6%, newly diagnosed individuals Dominican Republic, Mexico and Puerto Rico making up the majority of foreign-born newly diagnosed individuals in Manhattan, Bronx and Queens respectively. Almost one-half of persons newly diagnosed with HIV born in South and Central America live in Queens.1

"It is apparent from the latest statistics we need to do more to help Spanish-speaking gay and bisexual men lead healthier lives. Immediate, simple and culturally relevant solutions must be implemented without delay" said Sanchez-Soto. "'Me Hice la Prueba Con Orgullo" is a straightforward, non-threatening way to appeal to an individual's sense of cultural pride. It changes the context in which people take the HIV test from trepidation to delight for having completed an important health exam."

Since 2002, HAF has been at the forefront the city's efforts to target Spanish-speaking Latinos to take the HIV test, holding four annual citywide HIV testing campaigns a year and testing more than 6,000 individuals. They have partnered with 20 other non-profits to make the test more accessible at the community level, appearing on radio and television to educate the public, and disseminating accurate Spanish-language health information at public venues. The campaign has been so successful it is serves as a model for National Latino HIV Testing Month in July.

Although HAF has held many social marketing campaigns aimed at gay and bisexual men, "Hice la Prueba Con Orgullo" will be the longest running campaign with the most resources available to this community. HAF will distribute Spanish-Language full-color educational materials with information on Sexually Transmitted Diseases, known co-factors to HIV infection, safer sex kits called "HAF Essentials" which contain condoms, lube, t-shirts, information packets, and many other incentives. Extensive Spanish-language print and radio advertising will also complement work by a targeted outreach team who will blanket public venues to promote the campaign's message. "Hice la Prueba Con Orgullo" is funded by the NYC Communities of Color HIV/AIDS Coalition Initiative.

Hispanic AIDS Forum offers free treatment education, case management assistance, counseling, and other innovative services on HIV/AIDS to the Latino population of New York. More recently, HAF received funding to provide Rapid Testing, an HIV test that provides individuals results within 20 minutes. More than 80% of HAF's staff is certified to provide HIV counseling and testing. For more information, please call Mauricio Iafolla at (212) 563-4500.

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1 HIV Epidemiology Program, 1st Quarter Report. New York City Department of Health, January 2006