The Area Health Education Center, a part of UT Health San Antonio Regional Campus Laredo, on March 11 marked the start of a week-long initiative in support of National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2019.
Numerous community agencies joined forces at the Regional Campus to create awareness through educational activities and free HIV/AIDS testing.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that women make up 24% of all HIV diagnosed cases among adults in the United States and Hispanic women are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS; the rate of new HIV infections among Hispanic women is more than four times the rate of white, non-Hispanic women.
The Area Health Education Center is an outreach program under the UT Health San Antonio and is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization with a mission to enhance the quality of life in the communities by increasing the number of well-trained health care workers; enhancing academic resources; and fostering a healthy life style through community education programs. For additional information about AHEC and the menu of programs, visit www.facebook.com/AreaHealthEducationCenter or www.mrgbahec.org or call (956) 712-0037.