Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PRNewswire - November 2, 2004
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the US' largest AIDS organization, which operates free AIDS treatment clinics in the US, Central America, Africa and India and which will soon open an AIDS treatment clinic in Mexico, expressed concern over two recent University of California studies that showed an alarming rate of HIV infection among Mexican migrant workers working in and along the border of California. According to an article in today's Los Angeles Times, "As many as 1% of migrant workers -- about 20,000 people -- are infected with HIV... That's more than three times the rate of HIV in the general U.S. and Mexican populations..."
"We are saddened, but not completely surprised by the information found by these two recent studies," said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). "This research underscores the need for timely, stepped-up prevention and treatment efforts targeting such at-risk populations so that we may better to try and contain the further spread of HIV so that it does not rage out of control and become endemic as it has in parts of Africa, India and China."
AIDS Healthcare Foundation is set to open an AIDS medical treatment clinic in Tijuana in partnership with a respected local Mexican non-government organization (NGO) before the end of this year.
"We are currently developing a treatment clinic with local leaders in Tijuana to bring HIV infected individuals into both treatment and prevention," said Cesar Portillo, AIDS Healthcare Foundation's Chief of Public Affairs. "Tijuana is a nexus for many of those deported from the US as well as those seeking entry, and we believe this clinic may serve both as a much-needed medical facility, and also as a critical prevention tool in helping to break the chain of infection."
In addition to its US clinics in California and Florida, AHF currently operates three treatment clinics in Honduras; in San Pedro Sula, Sigautepeque and on the island of Roatan.
Source: AIDS Healthcare Foundation
CONTACT: Cesar Portillo, AHF Chief of Public Affairs, +1-323-860-5202, or Ged Kenslea, AHF Communications Director, +1-323-860-5225
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