First lady Laura Bush is scheduled to visit Haiti and Mexico from March 13-14 to highlight U.S. efforts to promote health care issues, including HIV/AIDS, in the region, VOA News reports (VOA News, 3/5).

White House spokesperson Dana Perino announced the trip on Wednesday, AFP/Yahoo! News reports. In Haiti, Bush will visit a USAID education program and an HIV/AIDS clinic. According to AFP/Yahoo! News, Haiti receives assistance from the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (AFP/Yahoo! News, 3/5). According to UNAIDS, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Haiti is estimated at about 270,000, CaribWorldNews.com reports (CaribWorldNews.com, 3/6).

In Mexico, Bush is scheduled to attend the launch of a U.S.-Mexico partnership for breast cancer awareness and research. An official in Bush's office declined to say whether she would meet with leaders from either country (AFP/Yahoo! News, 3/5).