LAS VEGAS – The Southern Nevada Health District and the Southern Nevada HIV Awareness Coalition will offer rapid HIV testing, information about pre- and post-exposure HIV treatment options (PreP/PEP), as well as substance abuse treatment and resources at the 10th annual free health fair event for National Latinx AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD) on Friday, November 5, from noon to 5 p.m. at Killer Sound, 4884 E. Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89115. The free event will include music, health vendors and other entertainment.

NLAAD offers an opportunity to encourage members of the Hispanic/Latinx community to get tested and to learn their status by mobilizing the community to promote effective ways to prevent, treat and stop the spread of HIV.

HIV/AIDS continues to impact communities of color at higher rates. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 27 percent of new HIV diagnoses in 2018 were among Hispanics/Latinos. About one in six Hispanics/Latinx with HIV are unaware of their status, which, in turn, means they are not receiving HIV care and treatment. They might be spreading the infection to others. For more information, visit the CDC’s HIV and Hispanics/Latinos page.

The Southern Nevada Health District provides HIV/AIDS services that include testing, counseling, case management, outreach efforts, and community referrals. In addition, we offer STD screenings, treatment, exams, referrals, and counseling. The clinic is open 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday – Friday at 280 S. Decatur Blvd. and accepts most insurance. For information, call (702) 759-1700. All testing is confidential.

In addition, the Health District’s Collect2Protect program offers an HIV/STD at-home testing kit as part of its efforts to strengthen the community’s HIV/STD services. For information about the program, visit the Collect2Protect webpage at www.snhd.info/c2p. The at-home HIV kits are free and allow individuals to receive their results in their home. At-home test kits for gonorrhea and chlamydia are also available.