The Latino Commission on AIDS in conjunction with other Hispanic AIDS activists and health officials across the nation on Tuesday released a list of recommendations for federal policies aimed at addressing high HIV/AIDS rates in the Hispanic community, the Bergen Record reports. Hispanics, who represent 15% of the U.S. population, account for 25% of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses and 19% of people living with HIV/AIDS, according to the commission (Llorente, Bergen Record, 6/24).

The group has partnered with community organizations in eight cities and territories -- Chicago; Los Angeles; Miami; Philadelphia; Puerto Rico; New York; Washington, D.C.; and San Antonio -- to release the recommendations (Latino Hispanic AIDSaction Agenda release, 6/23).

The five pages of recommendations suggest ways to strengthen government health agency and local Hispanic community organization relationships, launch campaigns that encourage Hispanics to be tested for HIV and receive treatment, and develop a better understanding of language and cultural barriers that contribute to the group's higher risk for HIV/AIDS (Bergen Record, 6/24).

Lillian Rodriguez, president of Hispanic Federation, said, "A historic coming together of community leaders, health departments, service providers, researchers and advocates has helped us for the first time create a clear national agenda to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the [Hispanic] community" (LHAA release, 6/23).

The policy recommendation document is available online (.pdf).