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New nonprofit vows to fight spread of HIV
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Posted on Feb 06 2006
The Napu Life Foundation, a newly formed nonprofit organization, has taken on the cause of preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Northern Mariana Islands by vowing to vigilantly raise awareness about the deadly disease.
As part of its mission, Napu Life will also be involved in creating, implementing, and monitoring programs that help those who have been affected by the disease. These programs include services such as HIV/AIDS case management, school based HIV/AIDS education, treatment education, peer-to-peer HIV prevention outreach, and so forth.
“Our primary aim is to empower the community with the information they need about this deadly disease because there are still many misconceptions about HIV and AIDS,” said Michael Manglona, Napu Life president. “Information, after all, is powerful, and can lend to the ultimate prevention of the spread of the disease.”
This organization was officially formed and incorporated on July 8, 2005.
Napu Life also aims to provide services not currently offered through existing organizations. It will compile a list of support infrastructure that the community, particularly those who have been directly affected by the disease, that can be tapped when necessary. It will also continue to serve as the primary advocacy group for HIV/AIDS related issues.
“We will partner with other agencies, including local and stateside agencies, to ensure that we are providing the most comprehensive support system that we can possibly offer to the community,” Manglona said. “Already, we have members of our organization that have been invited to participate in training seminars in the states and in Hawaii.”
Napu Life will also be sponsoring various fundraising activities throughout the year.
The Napu Life board of directors include Joaquin Sablan, vice president; Tricia Tudela, treasurer; Joaquin Kiyoshi Jr., secretary; and Frankie Eliptico, Pacific Rim media coordinator. (PR)
