Remarks by the President on World AIDS Day

MOUNT AIRY, Md.--(Business Wire)--Calvary United Methodist Church 11:43 A.M. EST THE PRESIDENT: Tomorrow is World AIDS Day, and Laura and I arehonored to commemorate the occasion here at the Calvary UnitedMethodist Church. And we're honored to commemorate the day with peoplewho have dedicated their lives to save lives. I want to start by thanking Ambassador Mark Dybul, who is theGlobal AIDS Coordinator. His job is to make sure that America's greatcompassion is effective and widespread; that the goals we have set aremet. And I -- Mr. Ambassador, you're doing a fine job and I want tothank you very much for serving. I also want to thank Pastor DennisYocum, the pastor of this church. Dennis, I want to thank you for yourhospitality -- it's not easy to host the President and all those whofollow the President. I want to thank the members of your church whohave so graciously made our stay here so comfortable. I really want to thank the people standing behind me for not onlyjoining Laura and me in discussions, but for serving as such powerfulexamples of the human spirit. Behind me are folks who understand thatthe scourge of HIV/AIDS can be mitigated and that people's lives canbe improved; who have seen hopelessness and have seen hope; people whoare willing to act on the universal call to love a neighbor. Peoplehere come from obviously different backgrounds and differentdenominations, yet they share this timeless calling to heal the sickand comfort the lonely. And their stories are incredibly inspirationaland touching. I appreciate the fact that they live out their faith, just likehundreds of thousands of other people do who are involved with theHIV/AIDS crisis. And in so living out their faith, they better ourworld. World AIDS Day is both a day of sadness and a day of hope. Weremember with sadness all those lost to AIDS. We mourn their lives cutshort, their dreams of future denied. And we ask for God's blessing onthe loved ones they have left behind. We also mark this day with hope

-- for the improving prospects of those living with the virus, for the-- for the improving prospects of those living with the virus, for theunprecedented number of infections being prevented, and for newprogress toward eradicating this disease. Above all, we rededicateourselves to a great purpose: We will turn the tide against HIV/AIDS

-- once and for all.-- once and for all. According to the most recent estimates by the United Nations, morethan 33 million people around the world live with HIV. They aremothers, they are fathers, brothers and sisters, friends and teachers.And each day, some 5,700 lose their lives. When Americans witness this suffering, they feel a duty torespond. Some are motivated by conscience and a conviction thatAmerica should use its great influence to be a force for good. Manyothers are driven by faith -- by the call to love your neighbor asyourself, even when that neighbor may live on the other side of theworld. This spirit of brotherhood and generosity has long defined ourcountry. And over the past six years, we have rallied that spirit inthe fight against HIV/AIDS. Here at home, we've taken new measures to increase HIV/AIDStesting, expand treatment, and improve care. We've worked withhealthcare providers to make voluntary HIV screening a routine part ofmedical care, so all Americans can know their status. And we've workedwith Congress to renew the Ryan White Care Act, which helps HIV/AIDSpatients receive lifesaving drugs. Overseas, the scope of the challenge is much longer -- muchlarger, and this nation is responding. In 2003, I proposed theEmergency Plan for AIDS Relief -- a five-year, $15 billion initiativeto expand prevention, treatment, and care in the most heavily-affectedcountries. Congress approved the plan with bipartisan support. I wantour fellow citizens to think about what this means: Every year,American taxpayers send billions of their hard-earned dollars overseasto save the lives of people they have never met. In return for this extraordinary generosity, Americans expectresults. So the Emergency Plan includes specific, measurable targetsfor progress. It demands honesty and accountability for all thoseinvolved. It puts local partners in the lead, because they know theneeds of their people best. With this strategy, we have pioneered anew model for public health. And so far, the results have beenstriking: Five years ago, only 50,000 people with AIDS in sub-Sahara Africawere receiving antiretroviral drugs. Today, thanks to the emergencyplan and to the generosity of the American taxpayer, that number isnearly 1.4 million. Think about that, over a five-year period of timethe number of people in sub-Sahara Africa has increased from 50,000 to1.4 million thanks to the American taxpayer. Around the world, another6.7 million people with HIV/AIDS have received compassionate care,including 2.7 million orphans and vulnerable children. Tens ofmillions have received prevention -- prevention messages based on theproven principles of ABC, which is Abstinence, Be faithful, and useCondoms. The money that you have spent (sic) is being spent wisely andsaving lives. Some call this a remarkable success. I call it a goodstart. So we have worked with the private sector and G8 nations toincrease their commitments. This May, I proposed to double ournation's initial pledge to $30 billion over the next five years. TheseAmerican funds will help us support treatment for nearly 2.5 millionpeople, prevent more than 12 million new infections, and support carefor 12 million people, including more than 5 million orphans andvulnerable children. Now the time has come for United States Congressto act again. I'm confident they will, and I call on Congress to showAmerica's leadership and compassion by reauthorizing the emergencyplan and doubling our commitment to this urgent cause. One reason for the effectiveness of our efforts is the leadingrole of faith-based organizations. Last summer, volunteers from thischurch traveled to Namibia to serve at a home for AIDS orphans. Thinkabout that -- people from this part of Maryland took it uponthemselves to travel to a faraway land to help orphans, to say we loveyou, to inspire through their compassion. With me today is a fellownamed Chris Dominick from the McLean Bible Church. He briefed Lauraand me and the others on the training that he had received in order togo to Zambia tomorrow. Faith-based groups like these are the footsoldiers in the armies of compassion. They are changing behavior bychanging hearts -- and they are helping to defeat this epidemic onesoul at a time. This morning, I also met a woman a named Martha Chilufya -- wasafraid you left. (Laughter.) Eight years ago, she established theMututa Memorial Center in Zambia to honor her husband, who had died ofAIDS. Today, the center partners with the emergency plan andfaith-based care-givers to serve more than 150 patients. Martha hostedLaura and Jenna on their recent trip to Africa. And they listened to achoir of orphans who had received loving care at the center. Thechildren sang these inspiring words: "God, you are really there ...when I pray, when I cry, when I am ill, you are there." Stories like these bring pride to our country. And they shouldbring something more. When we support nations seeking to replace chaosand despair with progress and hope, we reduce the appeal of extremism.When we replace despair with progress, when we replace hopelessnesswith hope, we add to the security of our country. As well, we makefriends who will always remember that America stood with them in theirhour of need. The new relationships that America has forged in Africa are a highpriority for our nation. I'm pleased to announce that Laura and I willtravel to sub-Sahara Africa early next year. I look forward to seeingthe results of America's generosity -- and to assure our friends thatthey have a steady partner in the United States of America. The Scriptures tell us, "I have set before you life and death ...therefore, choose life." All who wage the battle against AIDS havemade the choice for life. Because of their compassion and courage,millions who once saw the disease as a death sentence now look to thefuture with hope. This World AIDS Day is a day of importance, becauseit's a day we resolve to continue this work of healing and redemption.It's a day to strive for the day when the scourge of AIDS is a part ofhistory. Laura and I are honored to be here with you all. May God blessyour work, may God bless those who suffer from HIV/AIDS, may Godcontinue to bless our country. Thank you. END 11:54 A.M. ESTWhite House Press Office1-202-456-2580Copyright Business Wire 2007