*EPF312 05/28/2003
Peace Corps Enlists 1,000 New Volunteers to Fight HIV/AIDS
(African and Caribbean nations will be targeted) (450)

Washington -- As part of historic legislation signed into law by President Bush May 27, the Peace Corps is mobilizing 1,000 new volunteers to fight HIV/AIDS in targeted African and Caribbean nations. The new recruits will join the more than 2,100 Peace Corps volunteers already engaged in HIV/AIDS projects around the world.

The new law, H.R. 1298, the U.S. Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Act of 2003, will direct $15 billion ($15,000 million) over the next five years to fight HIV/AIDS abroad, focusing on 12 African and two Caribbean countries where HIV/AIDS is heavily concentrated.

President Bush, in signing the bipartisan legislation into law at a May 27 ceremony at the Department of State, expressed his belief that fighting AIDS was a "moral duty," and specifically recognized Peace Corps volunteers for their work abroad.

"Peace Corps volunteers are making an impact at the local level, and by committing an additional 1,000 volunteers, Peace Corps will be able to enhance a number of programs and expand HIV/AIDS projects in current Peace Corps countries," Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez stated in a press release announcing the initiative.

"The expansion includes additional volunteers working in targeted African countries, as well as those in the Caribbean. Also, more educational material, written in local languages, will be developed for volunteers to use in their communities," he added.

Peace Corps currently has more than 2,100 volunteers worldwide working on HIV/AIDS activities. Peace Corps programs in two countries, Botswana and Swaziland, are devoted entirely to the pandemic. In addition, Peace Corps is exploring partnerships with other Federal agencies to further expand its efforts as part of the President's initiative.

The Crisis Corps program, in which former Peace Corps volunteers return to service for a limited period, will also commit volunteers to fight the disease, the Peace Corp press release noted, by lending their expertise to non-governmental organizations and government agencies worldwide for assignments of up to six months.

The Peace Corps will also enhance the ability of volunteers and their communities to obtain and exchange information about the latest innovations in public health education, behavior change, and delivery of services to people living with HIV/AIDS through the use of information technology.

Since 1961, more than 168,000 volunteers have served in the Peace Corps, working in such diverse fields as education, health and HIV/AIDS education and awareness, information technology, business development, the environment, and agriculture. Peace Corps Volunteers serve two-year tours of duty, must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age.

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

Return to Public File Main Page

Return to Public Table of Contents