FEDERAL PROGRAM WILL TARGET AIDS AMONG MINORITIES

Warning of a "severe and ongoing" AIDS crisis in minority communities,
President Clinton announced a $156 million program Wednesday to combat the
spread of the disease among blacks and Hispanics.

The new initiative includes a prevention campaign, improved access to drug
treatments, training for health professionals who treat the disease, and
federal" crisis response teams" that the Department of Health and Human
Services will dispatch to areas highly affected by AIDS.

While overall AIDS deaths have declined for two years in a row, AIDS remains
the leading killer of U.S. black men ages 25-44 and the second leading
killer of U.S. black woman in the same age group. Blacks account for more
than 40 percent of all new HIV/AIDS cases, and Hispanics for more than 20
percent.

Checked-by: Rolf Ernst