On World AIDS Day, we lift up the work advocates and communities are doing to achieve an AIDS-free generation. In this post we will explore the White House’s goal to reduce new HIV infections. As we mentioned in a previous post, the White House released the first comprehensive plan to address the U.S. HIV/AIDS epidemic in 2010.

The three main strategies the National Strategy identifies are to lower the annual number of new infections by 25%, to reduce HIV transmission by 30%, and increase the percentage of people living with HIV who know their HIV status from 79% to 90%.

While the rate of new infections has remained constant for the past several years, the reality is that every 9.5 minutes, someone in the U.S. becomes infected with HIV. Because Hispanics are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS, we have to work harder to prevent new infections the community, including older adults.

The rates of HIV/AIDS among people ages 50 and over were fives times higher among Hispanics compared to non-Hispanic Whites. While many AIDS cases are the result of HIV infections at younger ages, new infections at older ages are increasing. In fact, new AIDS cases are rising faster among middle-aged and older adults than those under 40.

There are many reasons why people are unaware of the HIV status, but there are also several things we can do to help change this reality:

• Get the facts about HIV/AIDS with share it with others.
• Get tested and encourage others to join you. Find your nearest testing location at www.hivtest.org or send a text message with your 5-digit ZIP code to KNOWIT (566948).
• Get involved in the fight to act against AIDS. Visit www.actagainstaids.org for more information.