Press Releases

President Bush Announces Five-Year, $30 Billion HIV/AIDS Plan

On May 30, 2007, U.S. President Bush announced his intention to double the U.S. commitment to fighting the scourge of HIV and AIDS by dedicating $30 billion over the next five years. The President announced his intention to double the $15 billion committed over the past five years, already the largest international health initiative dedicated to a specific disease.  Assuming Congress approves the President's proposal, the American people will have committed $48.3 billion across 10 years to fight HIV/AIDS.

The President will work with Congress to reauthorize The United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, And Malaria Act Of 2003, which established The President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).  After three years of PEPFAR implementation, the American people have supported treatment for 1.1 million individuals, more than one million of which are in Africa.  PEPFAR is on track to meet its ambitious five year goals to support treatment for two million people, prevent seven million new infections, and care for 10 million people, including orphans and vulnerable children.
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. The plan will emphasize transitioning from an emergency to a sustainable response for treatment, prevention, and care.
 

In Lesotho, the PEPFAR program is working with the Ministry of Health and the National AIDS Commission to build the capacity of the Basotho people to contain and control the epidemic.  This includes strengthening programs that prevent mother to child transmission of HIV, increasing access to quality HIV counseling and testing, integrating TB and HIV service delivery, and building local civil society groups.  The PEPFAR Program and the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) are working closely together to ensure maximum benefit of both programs to Lesotho.

To help assess the progress made to date, the U.S. First Lady Mrs. Laura Bush will travel to Africa this month.  The First Lady will meet with community leaders and visit with participants in HIV/AIDS programs in four countries: Zambia, Senegal, Mali, and Mozambique.

For further information, please contact the Public Affairs section of the U.S. Embassy at 22-312-666.