Podcast Transcript

01 June 2007
U.S. Announces Five-year, $30 Billion HIV/AIDS Plan

Hello, I am Lian von Wantoch, and I work on development issues at the U.S. Embassy. I would like to tell you about U.S. efforts to fight HIV/AIDS globally and plans to expand these efforts.

In 2003, President Bush announced the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which is known as PEPFAR. PEPFAR committed $15 billion over five years to fight HIV/AIDS. It is the largest international health initiative dedicated to a specific disease.

Now, on May 30, President Bush announced his desire to double U.S. assistance to $30 billion and extend PEPFAR for an additional five years beyond 2008. These funds will be used to continue and expand U.S. efforts in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.

Assuming Congress meets the President's request for $30 billion over five years starting in Fiscal Year 2008, the United States will have committed $48.3 billion over the 10 years from 2003 to fight HIV/AIDS.

PEPFAR Today

Since 2003, PEPFAR has been achieving its ambitious targets to provide treatment, prevention, and care in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. As of March 31, 2007 PEPFAR has supported lifesaving treatment for 1.1 million people in the 15 focus countries, including more than 1 million in Africa. In comparison, three years ago, about 50,000 people were receiving antiretroviral treatment in Africa.

And, PEPFAR is on track to meet its ambitious 5 year goals by 2008. These are: to support treatment for 2 million people, prevention of 7 million new infections and care for 10 million people, including orphans and vulnerable children.

PEPFAR supports country-owned strategies and programs with commitment of resources and dedication to results. This has been achieved through the power of partnerships with governments, non-governmental, faith- and community-based organizations and the private sector.

The New Plan

The additional $30 billion, which President Bush just requested, is intended to continue and expand PEPFAR's successes. It will continue to expand life-saving treatment, comprehensive prevention programs and care for those in need, including orphans and vulnerable children. HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention and care are life-long needs, and the U.S. will continue to support those served during PEPFAR's first 5 years.

The President's new proposal will maintain 2 million people on lifesaving treatment, and support treatment for an additional 500,000. It aims to avert 5 million additional HIV infections beyond the 7 million averted in the initial phase. And, it will maintain care for ten million people, including 4 million orphans and vulnerable children, while supporting care for an additional 2.3 million people, including over 1 million orphans and vulnerable children.

Altogether this means: treatment for 2.5 million people, prevention of more than 12 million new infections, and care for more than 12 million people, including 5 million orphans and vulnerable children.

Going forward, PEPFAR will further expand efforts to strengthen health systems, and to leverage programs that address malaria, tuberculosis, child and maternal health, clean water, food and nutrition, education and other needs.

A key aspect of the new plan is the addition of "Partnership Compacts". Countries in such partnerships would add their own resources to U.S. support for HIV/AIDS, and adopt policies and practices that contribute to expanding each country's health care work force, promoting gender equality, protecting orphans rights, and making HIV counseling and testing effective.

In this way, the plan would transition from an emergency response to a sustainable response for treatment, prevention and care.

HIV/AIDS is a global crisis that requires a global response. The United States currently provides as many resources to fight global HIV/AIDS as all other developed country governments combined. But only together can we turn the tide against this global epidemic.

Additional information on U.S. efforts to fight HIV/AIDS may be found on the web at www.PEPFAR.gov. Thank you.

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