RALEIGH - The state Division of Public Health is partnering with Latino community leaders and other organizations to offer HIV testing in Wake County and elsewhere in the state Wednesday.

The testing will be free and open to the general public and is coinciding with National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, which aims to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS in the Latino community.

More than 32,000 North Carolinians are living with HIV disease, according to the state Division of Public Health. Latinos make up approximately 7 percent of the state's population and comprise 8 percent of all new HIV/AIDS cases reported, according to a news release issued by division. The rate of HIV infection for Latinos, the release said, is almost four times that for whites.

"Responding to HIV and AIDS is a top public health priority in North Carolina," state Health Director Leah Devlin said in the release. "Providing free testing across the state on Latino AIDS Awareness Day is one way we can make it easier for people to learn about HIV/AIDS and to find out their status."

Local health departments in North Carolina offer free testing. To find a health department near you, go online to www.ncalhd.org/county.htm or call the CARE-LINE at 1-800-662-7030 (TTY 1-877-452-2514).

The National Latino HIV/AIDS Awareness Day webpage is at www.nlaad.org.

In Raleigh on Wednesday, Wake County Human Services will have a Quiz Radio show on "La Regia" 540 AM, where Wake County staff will speak about HIV and STDs risk behaviors and prevention. Listeners will be able to call the station to answer some questions concerning HIV and STD prevention and win prizes.

At N.C. State University's Witherspoon Student Center, people will be able to get HIV tests from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday.

On Saturday, Wake County Human Services will offer HIV and syphilis tests from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Rock Quarry Flea Market. Teens who have been trained as HIV prevention leaders will be on hand to promote the testing program and condom usage.

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