U.S. Supported Lifesaving Drug Treatment for 172,000 People, During Early Months of President's Emergency
Plan for AIDS Relief
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2005
0112-05-02
Press Office: 202-712-4320
Public Information: 202-712-4810
www.usaid.gov
Contact: USAID Press Office
The American people supported antiretroviral treatment for approximately 172,000 men, women and children in the first eight months of President George W. Bush's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The heartening, early progress in support for drug therapy through the bilateral program component of the Emergency Plan was announced on January 26, by the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Ambassador Randall L. Tobias.
The Emergency Plan supported treatment for 155,000 individuals in fifteen of the most afflicted nations in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, and 17,000 in countries beyond the 15 focus countries, for a total of 172,000 worldwide.
In June 2004, President Bush stated, "There's nothing better than a hopeful society in dealing with the pandemic. A hopeful society means you think you can win. A non-hopeful society says, I surrender. America is not going to surrender to the pandemic." The President's Emergency Plan, the largest international health initiative in history by a government dedicated to a single disease, is America's unprecedented five-year, $15 billion dollar commitment to bring hope to those suffering from HIV/AIDS globally.
"It is with great hope that we announce the initial treatment results of the historic President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the effort of the American people to join with our friends in the fifteen focus nations, and around the world, to fight global HIV/AIDS," Tobias remarked. "The President promised compassionate action-and under his leadership, and with the support of Congress, we have acted with unprecedented urgency and innovation."
As the lead U.S. government agency responsible for economic assistance and humanitarian relief in the developing world, USAID is proud to have a major role in this effort. "We have made the fight against HIV/AIDS a top priority, not only for humanitarian reasons, but also because the HIV/AIDS crisis threatens the prosperity, stability, and development of nations around the world," said USAID Administrator Andrew S. Natsios.
Tobias reported that the numbers reflect efforts through the end of September 2004 and that today there are many more people benefiting from U.S.-supported therapy. He stated that the President's Emergency Plan will meet its goal to support treatment for more than 200,000 people by June 2005 (one year after full implementation), well ahead of schedule. He also expressed confidence that this early success puts the Plan well on track to meet the President's goal of supporting treatment for 2 million people in five years.
Under the Emergency Plan, the United States works shoulder to shoulder with partners and friends in host nations, helping build capacity in support of each country's national strategy. Over 80% of 1271 Emergency Plan partners on the ground are indigenous organizations.
"These heartening results were achieved by the work of talented and dedicated people in-country. The President's Emergency Plan is dedicated to supporting their efforts, but the true credit rests with them," said Tobias.
The Emergency Plan is supporting national strategies to provide the full spectrum of services required for quality treatment. Quality treatment includes not only medicines, but trained clinical and laboratory personnel and counselors for treatment regimen adherence, prevention and healthy living, physical infrastructure including laboratory equipment, distribution, logistics and management systems for drugs and other commodities, treatment for opportunistic infections and other basic care, and much more.
Support for multilateral organizations is an integral part of the President's Emergency Plan. The U.S. Government is by far the largest contributor to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, providing one-third of resources available currently to the Fund. Therefore, one-third of the support for treatment provided from the Fund also comes from the compassion and generosity of the American people.
Amb. Tobias made the announcement immediately before the opening of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He spoke at a joint press conference with leaders of the U.N. Joint Programme on AIDS, the World Health Organization, and the Global Fund, joining these partners in order to emphasize ongoing U.S. commitment to international cooperation in fighting HIV/AIDS.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
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