Chris Dodd: “Addressing the AIDS pandemic in the Caribbean has been a major concern of the Caribbean Community of countries'…”

“Addressing the AIDS pandemic in the Caribbean has been a major concern of the Caribbean Community of countries' (CARICOM), we therefore commend your efforts to address the AIDS epidemic in the Caribbean through your Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. We are writing however, because we believe that a more inclusive approach to addressing AIDS in the region is needed, which is why we are requesting that you expand your initiative to include all Caribbean countries in the region. As you know, the number of HIV/AIDS infection rates in the Caribbean is only surpassed by that of sub-Saharan Africa. In fact, prevalence rates in the Caribbean region are similar to what they were in sub-Saharan Africa prior to the explosion of the virus in the general population. Like you, were greatly concerned about the AIDS crisis in the Caribbean and realize that aid from international donors such as the U.S.…”