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World AIDS Day 2007
President and Mrs. Bush Reaffirm Our Nation's Unprecedented Commitment toFighting HIV/AIDS at Home and Abroad
WASHINGTON, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, President and Mrs.Bush will mark World AIDS Day 2007 by participating in a faith-basedroundtable discussion at Calvary United Methodist Church in Mount Airy,Maryland. Since 2001, the Administration has delivered more than $129 billionto fight HIV/AIDS both at home and abroad. This World AIDS Day, the U.S.Government is highlighting the important role of faith- and community-basedorganizations in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. The President and Mrs.Bush will discuss the global response to HIV/AIDS with U.S. Global AIDSCoordinator Mark Dybul, members of local churches involved with volunteerefforts in AIDS-afflicted countries, and faith-based organizations partneringwith the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Starting today,the White House will display the red ribbon for two days on the North Porticoto represent the continued battle against HIV/AIDS and to affirm the matchlessvalue of every life.
Today, the President will meet Martha Chilufya who established the MututaMemorial Center in Zambia. This center partners with Emergency Plan andfaith-based caregivers to serve more than 150 patients. Mrs. Bush and JennaBush visited the center in June to listen to a choir of orphans who receivecare at the center.
-- Last summer, volunteers from Calvary United Methodist Church traveledto Namibia to serve at a home for AIDS orphans. The President will also meetwith a man from McLean Bible Church who is part of a team that is leaving forZambia tomorrow.
America Continues To Lead The World In Fighting HIV/AIDS
The United States is on track to exceed the President's commitment of $15billion over five years for PEPFAR to support treatment for two millionpeople, prevention of seven million new infections, and care for 10 millionpeople. PEPFAR is the largest international health initiative ever dedicatedto a single disease.
-- As of September 30, 2007, PEPFAR was supporting life-saving
antiretroviral treatment for approximately 1.36 million people living
with HIV/AIDS in the 15 focus countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia,
and the Caribbean. This life-saving treatment provides healing and
hope to those affected by HIV/AIDS.
-- On May 30, 2007, the President announced his proposal to double
America's initial $15 billion commitment to fight global HIV/AIDS
through PEPFAR. The American people will have committed $48.3 billion
over 10 years to fight HIV/AIDS if Congress continues to support the
President's plan, including his proposal to provide $30 billion over
the next five years.
On World AIDS Day 2007, President Bush again calls on Congress toreauthorize PEPFAR to continue to support those served by the program, and tofurther expand efforts to build on the program's success. With fullimplementation of the "Partnership Compact" model proposed by the President,maintenance of the successful grassroots collaborations with faith-basedgroups, and a continued emphasis on preventing infection through behavioralchanges, live saving progress will continue. If Congress appropriates thefunds, the next phase of the American people's commitment to those sufferingfrom HIV/AIDS will support: -- Treatment for 2.5 million people
-- Prevention of more than 12 million new infections
-- Care for more than 12 million people, including five million orphans
and vulnerable children.
PEPFAR is supporting the leadership of local communities. PEPFAR workswith partners in host nations to support local capacity and to sustainprevention, treatment, and care efforts long after the initial five years ofthe Emergency Plan. Over 80 percent of PEPFAR partners are indigenousorganizations, including faith-and community-based organizations.
PEPFAR draws upon the capabilities of faith-and community-basedorganizations to contribute to an effective, multi-sectoral response to theHIV/AIDS pandemic. These organizations are uniquely positioned to promoteHIV/AIDS stigma reduction and prevention messages, as well as to providecounseling and testing, home care, clinical services, and antiretroviraltreatment. These attributes make their partnership a valuable asset in thefight against HIV/AIDS.
-- PEPFAR's New Partner Initiative (NPI) will award its second round of
grants for HIV/AIDS prevention and care. President Bush launched the
$200 million New Partners Initiative on World AIDS Day 2005 and
announced the first round of grants on World AIDS Day 2006. The second
round of three-year grants will award up to $36 million in 14 grants to
organizations working in nine countries.
- The NPI is identifying and supporting organizations providing health
care in the developing world, including faith-based and community
organizations, to achieve local ownership and long-term
sustainability.
The United States supports one of the most diverse prevention portfoliosof any international partner. In addition to the balanced, evidenced-basedABC (Abstain, Be faithful, and the correct and consistent use of Condoms)approach, the U.S. supports programs that address mother-to-childtransmission, blood safety and safe medical injections, male circumcision,injecting drug users, HIV-discordant couples, alcohol abuse, and other keyissues, including gender-specific programs.
The United States leads the world in its support of the Global Fund toFight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. President Bush made the Fund'sfounding contribution, and the United States has pledged approximately $3billion and contributed approximately $2.5 billion to date - far more than anyother nation.
As a result of the President's leadership, G-8 leaders in Junedemonstrated their commitment to work with Africa and set a goal of supportingtreatment for five million HIV/AIDS-infected individuals, preventing 24million new infections, and caring for 24 million people, including 10 millionorphans and vulnerable children.
The Administration Is Working To End Discrimination Against People LivingWith HIV/AIDS
This winter, the Department of Homeland Security will publish a final ruleestablishing a categorical waiver for HIV-positive people seeking to enter theUnited States on short-term visas. Because the President considers theparticipation of people living with HIV/AIDS a critical element in the globalHIV/AIDS response, he directed the Secretary of State to request and theSecretary of Homeland Security to initiate a rulemaking to propose this waiveron World AIDS Day 2006. A 1993 law prohibits HIV-positive people fromreceiving visas to visit the United States without a waiver. A categoricalwaiver will enable HIV-positive people to enter the United States for shortvisits through a streamlined process.
The Administration Is Dedicated To Helping The More Than One MillionAmericans Living With HIV/AIDS Here At Home
The Administration is working to compassionately address the needs ofpeople living with HIV/AIDS and to prevent new HIV infections within theUnited States. Each year, about half of new transmissions are spread byindividuals unaware they are infecting others. The number of AIDS cases isespecially high in the African-American, Hispanic, and gay communities, aswell as among injecting drug users and prisoners.
-- Since 2001, the Administration has devoted more than $89 billion to
treatment and care for people living with HIV/AIDS in the United
States, increasing annual treatment funding by 47 percent. In
addition, the Administration has devoted approximately $18 billion to
HIV/AIDS research to help develop new methods of treatment and
prevention, increasing research funding by 20 percent during this same
time period.
The Administration is successfully implementing the Ryan White Care Act,which helps ensure that AIDS patients can receive treatment, includinglifesaving drugs. After reauthorization of the Ryan White Care Act last year,the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is already seeing a betterfocus of Federal resources on life-extending care and improved targeting ofresources to address the greatest needs.
-- HIV/AIDS drugs continue to be delivered to people through the Ryan
White AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP).
-- In 2006, the Ryan White programs helped provide more than two million
outpatient healthcare visits. In addition, the programs helped deliver
more than 3.9 million case management visits, which are crucial to
helping use Ryan White dollars wisely to fill gaps in care and help
American patients navigate the U.S. healthcare system.
The President continues to support HIV tests becoming a routine part ofcare so all Americans know their status. The HHS Centers for Disease Controland Prevention (CDC) have released guidelines to physicians recommendingroutine voluntary HIV testing as a part of regular medical care for all peoplebetween the ages of 13-64, and annual screening for those at high risk. HHScontinues to do extensive outreach to help states put these guidelines intopractice.
-- The President's 2008 Budget requested $93 million to purchase and
distribute rapid HIV test kits that will facilitate testing of
approximately three million additional Americans. Of the approximately
one million people infected with HIV, an estimated 250,000 are unaware
they carry the virus. Rapid HIV test kits will be directed at
communities with the highest rates of newly discovered HIV cases,
including prisoners and injecting drug users.SOURCE White House Press OfficeWhite House Press Office, +1-202-456-2580
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