Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico - On July 18th and 19th SETAC, in partnership with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) - the world's largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare, research, prevention and education provider - trained twenty Puerto Vallarta and Banderas Bay area HIV health service providers and volunteers at the SETAC GLBT Community Center.

The "Rapid Testing Model" training was led by AHF National Coordinator for Advocacy & Prevention, Jessica Dector, who explained that this model is a departure from the traditional voluntary counseling and testing process, as it operates at outdoor events to provide streamlined pre-test counseling using a variety of new products to help as many people learn their status as possible. This model is the one that has been used by SETAC's HIV Brigades since the beginning.

AHF Program Coordinator for the Central Region, Norma Hernandez, led the "Link to Health Care" training, a program that not only informs individuals of their HIV status, but also links them with medical care resources. She explained that awareness advocacy and medical care go hand in hand to save lives and prevent the spread of the virus.

The training seminars were attended by members of COMUSIDA, the Regional Hospital, CAPASITS, CISAME, the Youth Integration Center, Mexican Network of Transgender Women from Guadalajara, and SETAC volunteers. To conclude this training, all of the above mentioned institutions presented an HIV Rapid Test Health Fair on the Malecón in downtown Puerto Vallarta on Saturday, July 20th from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.

"The intention is to join forces within the Banderas Bay region and coordinate the response to HIV to produce better results and to help destigmatize HIV rapid testing," said SETAC Executive Director, Paco Arjona. "Training like this helps us to bring the message 'For a World Without AIDS for our Children' to more people," he added.

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The purpose of the SETAC Puerto Vallarta Gay, Lesbian Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Community Center, located at Constitucion #427 and the corner of Manuel Dieguez, is to provide essential services to the GLBT community, including physical and mental health treatment and referrals, education, and recreation, in an atmosphere of safety, free from discrimination. For more information, contact Paco Arjona at (322) 224-1974 or paco(at)setac.com.mx.

Click HERE to learn more about Centro Comunitario SETAC-GLBT.