Nicaraguan Group Launches HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign

Arely Cano, president of the Nicaraguan HIV/AIDS association, on Monday announced that the group plans to launch a new campaign to fight the disease in the country, Xinhua/People's Daily reports. The campaign aims to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS in Nicaragua and mobilize people to undergo testing and practice safe sex. Cano said results of a study showed that people living with HIV/AIDS in Nicaragua are calling for more employment and more commitment from the government and educators to address the problem.

"Young women are the most affected" by HIV/AIDS, Cano said, adding, "Men tell women that if they have AIDS, it is the woman who gave it to him, or that it is proof she has been with another man. This violates women's rights." The study said that male infidelity is the most likely route of HIV transmission to women. According to the association, there are 18,000 to 20,000 HIV-positive people living in Nicaragua and 2,754 people living with AIDS (Xinhua/People's Daily, 7/31).