Peace Corps pledges 1,000 more AIDS workers

The U.S. Peace Corps announced last week that the agency will add 1,000 workers to the current 2,100 who are focusing on HIV/AIDS around the world, Agence France-Presse reports. The additional workers are being funded through the newly approved $15 billion federal international AIDS initiative. "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," said program director Gaddi Vasquez. "Also, more educational material, written in local languages, will be developed for volunteers to use in their communities." New HIV/AIDS Peace Corps workers are expected to be sent overseas beginning this summer.