Translators
needed at Maryland HIV clinics

Spanish-speaking janitors and other support staff are commonly called on by Maryland public health clinics to deliver private health information--including HIV-related information--to Spanish-speaking clients because of a widespread shortage of bilingual case managers and health workers, The Washington Post reports. A report by the Silver Spring, Md.-based immigrant advocacy agency CASA also shows that most clinics in Maryland's Prince George's and Montgomery counties offer printed HIV awareness and prevention materials only in English, leaving Spanish-speaking Latinos without adequate access to key health information.

U.S. law requires that publicly funded agencies make all services available to non-English speakers, and Maryland health officials say they are working to improve Spanish-language services, but note that more work needs to be done. They also say that French-language health materials also need to be improved because there are many French-speaking African immigrants in the region. (Advocate.com)