AltaMed's Award-Winning HIV/AIDS Telenovela Returns With More Drama!

AltaMed Health Services recently launched Season 2 of an originally produced, serialized telenovela about HIV/AIDS called "Sin Verg�enza" ("Without Shame"). The award-winning and nationally recognized telenovella is a three-episode (English and Spanish) series that addresses what happens to an East Los Angeles family after receiving an HIV diagnosis. "Sin Verg�enza," which first aired in 2012, was created to reduce HIV stigma and shame, and increase awareness on the importance of HIV testing and treatment.��

Viewers will catch up on the story of the Salazars, a fictional Mexican-American family living in East Los Angeles.�While the first season's goal was to encourage viewers to seek HIV testing, the second season promotes HIV medical care, treatment and emotional support.�Themes in the second season also include shame, homophobia, stigma, Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and preventing mother-to-child transmission. "The only shame is living a lie" theme of Season 1 is triumphed with Season 2's dilemma of confronting those lies.

In 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognized the importance of the series and has since been using the series in its HIV initiatives.

"Because telenovelas are a cultural touchstone in the Latino community, 'Sin Verg�enza' is a unique educational tool to address an important community health care issue, a thought-provoking, cutting-edge drama that uses storytelling to tackle the shame and stigma associated with HIV," said Thomas Siegmeth, AVP of Regional Clinic Administration at AltaMed. "The goal of this series is to encourage people to seek HIV medical treatment and care, and decrease the stigma associated with the disease."

Nearly 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV infection, and one in eight is unaware of their infection, according to the CDC.�Latinos represented 16 percent of the population but accounted for 21 percent of new HIV infections in 2010. Fewer than half of Latinos with HIV are receiving medication to treat their infection. This telenovela is tied to AltaMed's Universal HIV Testing Initiative, which promotes routine HIV screening among all adults, adolescents, and pregnant women ages 13 years and older.�

AltaMed has been providing quality HIV and AIDS health care to Los Angeles' Latino, multi-ethnic and underserved communities for more than 20 years. Its services include specialty care, treatment, prevention services, counseling, and access to clinical trials.

Season 2 episodes have been released on SVseries.org and via AltaMed's YouTube account page. To watch the telenovela, click on "Sin Verg�enza" on AltaMed's YouTube channel
here.

AltaMed is Southern California's leading nonprofit health care system delivering integrated primary care services, senior care programs, and health and human services for the entire family. AltaMed's team of multicultural and bilingual physicians and health care professionals deliver superior quality care through an integrated delivery system of 46 sites and an affiliated Independent Practice Association (IPA) of contracted physicians in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.