Kendrick Meek: “according to the World Bank, more than half a million people are living with HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean region, and the…”

“according to the World Bank, more than half a million people are living with HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean region, and the prevalence among adults 15 to 49 has reached 2 percent. In Haiti, the situation is dramatically worse. Estimates reach as high as 12 percent of the urban population, and 5 percent for the rural population. We must speak very strongly for Haiti. We must speak very strongly against this HIV epidemic or pandemic that is going across our world. The epidemic has spread beyond the high-risk population to the general population. Mr. Speaker, a regional strategic plan is in place to reduce the spread and impact of the epidemic in Haiti and throughout the Caribbean, but Haiti desperately needs the financial support of the United States, the World Bank, and the international community to implement it. I have yet to understand why the United States is holding up its aid to Haiti. Mr. Speaker, Haiti has made considerable progress politically. It has now met virtually all of the conditions established by the United States. I appeal to the Congress to press for relief for Haiti.”