Latino conference ends with focus on AIDS issues

The National Council of La Raza's annual conference in Austin ended Tuesday with discussions of health issues affecting the nation's Latino communities, including HIV/AIDS, the Austin American-Statesman reports. According to health officials at the conference, about 27% of the HIV-positive people in Texas in 2002 were Latino, and similar percentages are seen in other states with large Latino populations. The conference attendees discussed possible ways to break the unique barriers to accessing HIV prevention and care that face Latinos, including gaining better access to health care, boosting the number of Latinos who have health insurance, and addressing language and cultural issues that discourage Latinos from using available services.