Texas: Free HIV Tests Available for Hispanics

Amigos Volunteers in Education and Services Inc. (AVES) will offer free HIV testing to Houston Hispanics 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Friday at the Consulate General of Mexico, 4507 San Jacinto and 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Kroger Supermarket, 5610 Gufton. The tests will be conducted using a mouth swab; results will take about 20 minutes.

AVES, an HIV/AIDS case-management agency, named its health awareness campaign, "El Poder de la Prueba," or "The Power of Testing Challenge." The group coordinated the campaign in conjunction with National Hispanic AIDS Awareness Day, which marks the end of Hispanic Heritage Month.

"Hispanics tend to get tested late," said AVES CEO Terence O'Neill. He said talk of HIV testing and prevention usually triggers negative responses within the Hispanic community.

"We're seeing grandmothers with AIDS, mothers, teenagers. We want people to know testing is OK. If you can't get tested on any of these days [during the campaign], ask your doctor or go to any of the city of Houston testing sites," O'Neill said.

Susana Brener de Stern, AVES' honorary campaign committee member, said, "It's important for women to be brave and take action. It's more important to be safe than to worry about what your mother or your friends think."

"It is important that our community is aware of HIV/AIDS and programs such as El Poder de la Prueba that are available to detect it," said Oscar de la Rosa, lead vocalist for the Latin music group La Mafia, who urged Houston's Hispanic community to make the most of the weekend's testing services. For more information, telephone 713-626-2837 or e-mail infoc@aves-health.org.

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