by Nick Delgado

Guam – Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo joined her colleagues to launch the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus. The effort is formerly known as the Task Force on international HIV/AIDS, and explores implementation of HIV/AIDS strategy, financing for programs, research, the role of faith-based organizations and the 2012 international HIV/AIDS conference, which will be held in Washington DC.

The Congresswoman earlier this year reintroduced a resolution supporting goals and ideas of National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS awareness day. According to a recent analysis released by the CDC, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders were the only racial/ethnic groups with a significant increase in new HIV infections with 4.4 percent. Moreover, one out of three Asians and Pacific Islanders who received an HIV diagnosis progressed to AIDS in less than 12 months.

Bordallo states, "I am hopeful that my colleagues and I can build upon the work of the Task Force and improve accessibility to programs and services critical to prevention and treatment efforts. I look forward to working with them to find new, effective ways to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS, especially among the Asian and Pacific Islander community."