Washington, D.C. -  Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus' Task Force on Health, released the following statement today in commemoration of World AIDS Day (December 1st):

"Today we recognize the devastating impact that the AIDS pandemic has on people in the United States and around the world.  It has been 25 years since the onset of this disease and though we have seen phenomenal strides in medicine that have allowed people to live with this heartbreaking disease, the HIV and AIDS population continues to struggle with widespread discrimination, misinformation, and a lack of resources.  As we continue this fight, let’s remember to hold true to this year’s theme for World AIDS Day: Stop AIDS, Keep the Promise.

"Our promise to stop AIDS is to the millions of children growing up without their parents. Internationally, 40 million people live with HIV and only eight percent of people with the virus in developing countries have access to treatment. By 2003, 15 million children under the age of 18 had been orphaned by HIV and AIDS.  We must work to provide a better quality of life for these children and for people living with the disease. We must prevent millions more family members and friends from losing loved ones to AIDS.

"Our promise to stop AIDS is to the new face of this epidemic. Today, communities of color in the United States comprise one-third of the population but account for 62 percent of all people living with AIDS.  As Chair of the Health Task Force for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, I am particularly concerned about the future of the epidemic in Latino families. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, half of new infections are among young people under 25. Latinas represent 18% of new AIDS cases among women. One-third of U.S. Latinos are under 25 –making the Latino population at greater risk for HIV and nearly half of new AIDS diagnoses in Los Angeles County in 2004 involved Latinos. 

"We must keep the promise to eradicate HIV and AIDS. Together we can ensure access to quality, culturally competent, multilingual services.  Together we must have a candid discussion of the risk factors of the disease, the ramifications of perpetuating the stigma and the dire need to provide the necessary resources to prevent and/or care for the disease. Together we can bring hope back to millions.

"By working together we can keep our promise and eradicate HIV and AIDS for the Latino population, for the global community, and for all of our families." 

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