MIAMI – The Office of Community Advocacy joins the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County in recognizing National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) with two local community awareness events. From 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., on Oct. 14, there will be a free school supplies distribution at 31220 SW 134th Avenue, in Homestead, FL where participants will receive HIV information and resources. From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., on Oct. 16, there will be a virtual Zoom live event on NLAAD’s Facebook page with cultural performances and where LatinX health will be discussed.

NLAAD is observed each year on October 15 to increase awareness of the impact of HIV on the Hispanic/Latino population in the United States. The NLAAD campaign promotes HIV testing, prevention, and provides information on access to care for Hispanic/Latino communities across the nation. This year’s theme is “Ending HIV is at your fingertips.” It focuses on the tools already available to respond to – and potentially end – the HIV epidemic.

Miami-Dade County Government, through the Office of Community Advocacy, launched branded condoms, which are available free of charge through the Florida Department of Health, our partners in the Getting 2 Zero awareness campaign. The goal of the campaign is to get to zero new HIV/AIDS cases, zero AIDS related deaths, zero stigma, and zero discrimination.

Using existing prevention tools can help our community get to zero. This NLAAD remember to: take the HIV test, consider PrEP as a prevention treatment, stay adherent to HIV treatment to become and stay undetectable and use condoms.

For additional information, contact Office of Community Advocacy Communications and Media Director Griselle Marino at 305-375-1585 or visit www.flhealth.gov and www.testmiami.org, or call the Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County’s HIV/AIDS Program at 305-643-7420. For print materials visit: www.nlaad.org.

The Office of Community Advocacy, under the Board of County Commissioners, oversees nine advisory boards and the Miami-Dade County Goodwill Ambassadors Program. The Office is charged with making Miami-Dade County "One Community" that embraces our diverse and unique population. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow @AdvocacyMDC on, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.