Group launches
HIV campaign for Asian-Americans

The Asian Pacific AIDS Intervention Team, based in Los Angeles and Orange County, Calif., on Monday announced it will launch a new nationwide advertising campaign aimed at reducing HIV-related stigma in Asian-American communities, The Orange County Register reports. The campaign will include 30-second public service announcements featuring prominent Asian-Americans talking about the disease in Cantonese, Vietnamese, Hindi, and Tagalog. The spots also will include referrals to local AIDS services designed to meet the cultural needs of Asian-Americans, says APAIT program director Tim Young. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders account for about 1% of the new HIV infections reported in the United States each year. (The Advocate)