CAPAC Marks
National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness
Day
Washington DC – May 19th is National Asian and Pacific
Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. Within the Asian American and Pacific Islander
(AAPI) community, HIV/AIDS is a significant public health concern which is
amplified and complicated by strong cultural stigmas. To mark API HIV/AIDS
Awareness Day, CAPAC Vice Chair Rep. Madeleine Bordallo (GU) introduced a
resolution “Supporting the goals and ideals of National Asian and Pacific
Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.” Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific
American Caucus (CAPAC) also released the following statements:
Rep. Judy Chu
(CA-27), CAPAC Chair: “HIV/AIDS
threatens Americans of all backgrounds, but in Asian American and Pacific
Islander (AAPI) communities that often stigmatize the diagnosis, problems
surrounding awareness, education, and access to care are compounded. These
factors have led AAPIs to be the only racial group experiencing a continued
increase in new HIV infections despite an overall decrease nationwide. That is
why I am proud to support my colleague Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo’s
resolution to recognize National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness
Day. We must encourage our communities to get tested and prioritize health over
saving face.”
Rep. Ami Bera
(CA-07), CAPAC Healthcare Taskforce Co-Chair: “Asian Americans
and Pacific Islanders have more new HIV infections than any other ethnic group.
Cultural issues in the AAPI community cause barriers to prevention that make
education and testing within our community absolutely vital. As a doctor, and
co-chair of the Health Care Task Force for CAPAC, I think it’s important that we
mark National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day by coming
together to overcome the stigmas that threaten our health and our community and
encourage people to get tested.”
Rep. Barbara Lee
(CA-13), CAPAC Healthcare Taskforce Co-Chair: “As we observe
the National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, I encourage
everyone to get tested and know their status. With the diversity of the AAPI
community, we must ensure that our outreach and health efforts meet the needs of
this culturally and socioeconomically diverse population. While we are making
progress against the disease, we still have a long way to go in fighting stigma,
expanding HIV testing rates, and modernizing HIV laws.”
Rep. Madeleine
Bordallo (GU), CAPAC Vice Chair: “I join my
colleagues in CAPAC in recognizing May 19 as National Asian and Pacific Islander
HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. AAPIs have increasing rates of infection yet they
continue to have the lowest rates of access to HIV-testing services. To draw
attention to the stigma and disparities that may hinder proper treatment and
prevention within the AAPI community, I have reintroduced a resolution to honor
the memory of 3,542 Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders we
have lost to AIDS, and to recognize the 9,317 whom are still living with
HIV/AIDS the United States. On May 19, I urge everyone to get tested for HIV and
be better informed.”
Rep. Mike Honda
(CA-17), CAPAC Chair Emeritus: “National
Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is a clarion call for the AAPI
community to rise above social and cultural barriers, start a conversation,
build a stronger support network, and most importantly, get tested and educated.
AAPIs have the highest rate of new HIV infections, even as testing rates remain
low. When it comes to HIV/AIDS, instead of saving face, we must begin saving
lives.”
Rep. Eni
Faleomavaega (AS): “As we enjoy the
celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we must also take an
affirmative stance to address the issues afflicting or community’s well-being.
Unfortunately, the cultural HIV/AIDS-related stigma in the Asian American and
Pacific Islander (AAPI) community has deterred many AAPIs from getting tested.
With the highest rates of increase in HIV infections, our community also has the
lowest rate of accessing services. Today, I encourage AAPIs across the Nation to
support one another in a spirit of unity as we overcome this increasing health
threat. I urge everyone to get tested and know their
status.”
Rep. Colleen
Hanabusa (HI-01): “While we have
continued to make progress in the fight against HIV infection and AIDS, we
cannot lose sight of the impact it still has on individuals, families and
communities across America. No group is immune from the effects of this
devastating disease. Pacific Island nations continue to see significant numbers
of cases. Across Asia, increasing the public’s knowledge of HIV and AIDS will
allow us to address the dangers that come with stigmatization and lack of
awareness. We have work to do. I want to give special recognition to the
outstanding work done by the Military HIV Research Program at the Walter Reed
Army Institute of Research, the main building of which now bears the name of the
late Senator Daniel K. Inouye. The foresight and support of facilities like
WRAIR and the MHRP, and individuals like Senator Inouye, will continue to play a
vital role in reducing the global impact of HIV and AIDS.”
Rep. Gregorio
Kilili Camacho Sablan (CNMI): “Affecting
long-lasting change, particularly in smaller Asian and Pacific Islander
communities like the Northern Marianas means raising awareness of how to prevent
and treat HIV/AIDS. We have made great strides — we have better statistics, more
people have access to care, talking about the disease and prevention is no
longer taboo — but there is still more we can do. Still, on this Asian and
Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day let's give thanks for our progress. And
let us recognize the doctors, nurses, clinicians, caregivers, family, friends
and all those who have made our communities healthier by raising HIV/AIDS
awareness. Remember: raise your consciousness, know your status, and get
tested.”
Rep. Mark Takano
(CA-41): “On this
National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, we must recognize
the outstanding efforts to reduce HIV/AIDS. Yet, there is more to do to reduce
the prevalence of this deadly disease, especially in the Asian American and
Pacific Islander community, as the AAPI community has seen the highest rate of
increase of new HIV infections in the nation. We need to pursue a range of HIV
prevention methods, but one of the easiest methods is getting tested. I
encourage everyone to get tested and know your status.”
Rep. Anna G.
Eshoo (CA-18): “National
Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day draws much needed attention to
the HIV/AIDS epidemic among the Asian Pacific American community. The fact that
HIV/AIDS rates are diminishing in every racial and ethnic group except for Asian
Pacific Americans indicates that we need an active awareness campaign, so that
individuals will know their HIV/AIDS status and be
tested.”
Rep. Alan S.
Lowenthal (CA-47): “As we
commemorate National Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day we must
confront the tragic impact of HIV/AIDS within the Asian American and Pacific
Islander community. The rate of HIV/AIDS diagnosis within AAPI communities sadly
continues to increase. Social stigma surrounding the disease which leads to low
testing rates, sexual risk factors, substance abuse, and the limited
availability of testing services have all created an untenable situation. The
Asian and Pacific Islander community has struggled with the prevalence of
HIV/AIDS for far too long. As we all know, this horrendous and crippling disease
knows no ethnicity. Today’s awareness day will shed light on the fact that we
stand in support of those living their lives with HIV/AIDS; we will listen; we
will fight for a cure; and, we will never let them fall into the
shadows.”
Rep. Scott
Peters (CA-52): “Only 1 in 5
individuals living with HIV & AIDS know they are infected, so it is critical
that we increase awareness about these preventable diseases. With more than
20,000 San Diegans – and more than 500 members of the API community – living
with HIV & AIDS I hope that increased knowledge and testing will stop its
spread and allow more people with the disease to live fuller, healthy
lives.”
Rep. Charles B.
Rangel (NY-13): “I am pleased
to commemorate National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day as
one of eleven federally recognized HIV/AIDS Awareness Days that is recognized
throughout the year. This is an important day because 1 in 3 Asian Americans and
Pacific Islanders living with HIV don't know it. We know that "saving face" is a
common cultural concept in the AAPI communities, where individuals seek to
protect the family from perceived public shame or disgrace. This contributes to
silence about sex, HIV, safe sex practices and also leads to higher rates of HIV
infection. As a Representative who has introduced a historic bill addressing the
extreme racial health disparities experienced by African Americans, I am
committed to finding culturally relevant strategies that will help promote
awareness and reduce stigma about this pandemic in the AAPI
community.”
Rep. Adam Smith
(WA-09): “On National
Asian and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day we stand with those living
with HIV/AIDS and work to advance the fight against the disease. The Asian
American and Pacific Islander community faces unique challenges regarding HIV
and AIDS, including having the lowest rates of regular STI testing. The fact
that an estimated 1 in 3 Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific
Islanders living with HIV/AIDS are unaware they are infected is startling. It is
critical that we come together to raise awareness and remove the stigma around
HIV/AIDS among AAPI Americans. Our country and the global community have made
incredible strides over the last 30 years in the battle against HIV and AIDS,
but there is a lot of work that remains. Let us use today to encourage everyone
to get tested for HIV/AIDS.”
Background:
National Asian
and Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was established by the Banyan Tree
Project in 2005 and promotes HIV/AIDS education in order to reduce the stigma of
HIV/AIDS in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander
Communities. It is observed on May 19th and is officially recognized
by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Data from the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders were the only ethnic groups with a statistically significant increase
in new HIV diagnoses between 2001 and 2008.
Despite these increasing rates of infection, AAPIs continue to have the
lowest rates of accessing HIV testing. The CDC estimates that 1 in 3 Asian
Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders living with HIV/AIDS are
unaware they are infected.
昆市亞裔協調會5月16日晚在昆士龍鳳大酒樓舉辦第6屆「培養未來領袖」社區宴，頒發獎學金給7名高中生，表揚對該會、社區有貢獻的4名個人或機構。
獲表揚的個人或機構，分別為華人醫務中心獲社區夥伴獎；基歐漢葬禮及火葬服務(Keohane Funeral and
Cremation Service)副總裁Joseph Reardon獲創辦人獎；今年6月將退休的昆士高中校長Frank
Santoro獲遠見獎；教會及社區義工，也是麻州眾議員兼昆市亞協創辦人之一的陳德基的母親陳何肇熹，獲李振儀(Gene
Lee)無名英雄獎。
昆市亞協今年的「培養未來領袖」社區宴，有華人醫務中心、龍鳳酒樓、東方銀行、昆市醫療中心等鑽石贊助商支持，道富集團亞裔會的曾昭鉉、黃伍翠霞、林淑明等人與青少年做服務義工，共600多人出席，場面十分盛大。
6女1男的7名獲獎學金者，全為曾參與昆市亞協青少年項目，為社區做過許多義務服務，即將升讀東北、衛斯理、波士頓、麻州、塔芙茨，以及紐約州的漢米頓(Hamilton)、加拿大的多倫多等大學、大專院校的高中畢業生。5人來自北昆士高中，2人來自昆士高中。其中的Tanya Tonnu、陳惠明(Helen Tran)、Alex
Nguyen等3人為越南裔，沈曉瑩(Kasey Shen)、楊麗芳(Lisa Yang)、朱慧茵(Jennifer
Chu)、黃麗儀(Lisa Wong)等4人為華裔。
目前在克拉克(Clark)大學就讀，擔任該校醫學院預科協會會長的王英格在接受張永鏗訪問時表示，在昆市亞協當義工的經驗，獲得的獎學金，對她的升讀大學很有幫助。4年前才從中國移民來美的她，當初經人介紹，到昆市亞協上新移民指南(new
immigrant orientation)課，也從此加入昆市亞協做義工，不但結交到許多同齡新朋友，進一步認識自己所居住的社區及美國社會，還學到許多做事方法，培養了領導能力。去年她們獲得的獎學金額為800元，比今年略少，但對她的升讀大學，繳交學雜費，還是幫助很大。
昆市亞協今年的社區宴，政界星光閃爍，不但代表麻州，轄區包括昆市的聯邦眾議員史帝芬林奇(Steven
Lynch)出席了，麻州參議員約翰基南(John Keenan)、麻州眾議員陳德基、艾雅(Bruce J. Ayers)、諾弗克(Norfolk)郡治安官白洛帝(Michael Bellotti)，昆市議員柯夫連(Kevin F. Coughlin)、古楚(Douglas S. Gutro)，聯邦參議員沃倫(Elisabeth Warren)的麻州主任劉煒等人，都應邀出席。
