Leaders of the Navajo Nation observed World AIDS Day with warnings about the HIV/AIDS threat facing the Navajo community.

Navajo Nation Vice President Frank Dayish Jr. said there are currently 256 HIV/AIDS cases on the reservation. He said an average of 20 new cases are reported every year.

"Effective, comprehensive control programs need to be increased to a massive scale," he said at the World AIDS Day event at Dine College in Shiprock, The Farmington Daily Times reported.

Duane "Chili" Yazzie, the president of the Shiprock Chapter, said HIV, AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases are "here to stay" on the reservation.

Get the Story:
World AIDS Day event held at Din College (The Farmington Daily Times 12/2)

Relevant Links:
National Native American AIDS Prevention Center - http://www.nnaapc.org
National HIV Prevention Conference - http://www.2005hivprevconf.org

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