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A good friend from one of the forums pointed out this effort that was being made by some celebrities in Central America. I applaud them for standing up and recognizing the humanitarian crisis we have right here on this side of the world as well. Take a moment and check out what they are doing. The organization they are working with is youthaids
Hollywood actress Ashley Judd met with AIDS patients here Tuesday and urged Guatemalans to eliminate prejudice against those who have the illness on the first day of a Central American tour as world ambassador for a private AIDS organization.
“I know that there is misinformation, that there is a stigma and superstitions that only contribute to the spread of AIDS,” Judd, world ambassador for the Washington-based YouthAIDS group, said while visiting an AIDS clinic run by Maryknoll nuns in the town of Coatepeque, 165 kilometers (100 miles) west of Guatemala City.
Fellow actress Salma Hayek and Colombian singer Juanes, who also represent the group, were expected to join Judd later Tuesday. The three planned to stay in Guatemala for several days, during which time they will meet with President Oscar Berger to discuss the AIDS situation in the country. Judd and Hayek will then continue the tour in Honduras and Nicaragua.
YouthAIDS promotes sexual abstinence as the only 100 percent-safe way to prevent AIDS, as well as monogamy and correct condom use. This article was reprinted with the permission of pravda.ru
A footnote to this story is that Michael Ein of Venturehouse Group (A group of entrepenurial companies such as XM Radio) paid $7,000 at a fundraiser for the opportunity to accompany Hayek and Judd through Central America. After paying that much he still has to pay the cost of travel so that all the money went to the charity!
Government statistics show 8,600 patients with AIDS in Guatemala, although it is widely believed that many people with the illness have gone unreported. A majority of those with AIDS contract the illness through sexual activity, the Health Ministry said, reports AP.
O.Ch.
