AHF Agrees with Bush's Call to Increase PEPFAR Funding, But Challenges Neglect of Domestic AIDS.

Global Program Saves Millions; However, US Epidemic Increasing Dramatically

WASHINGTON -- AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) (www.aidshealth.org) commended President Bush for his call to extend for five years the global AIDS initiative PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) and to increase funding for the program, made during his final State of the Union address earlier tonight. During the address, Bush asked Congress for a five-year extension to the program as well as for $30 billion in future funding for the global AIDS prevention, treatment and care program.

However, AHF expressed its disappointment that the President did not propose any additional measures or funding to step up the fight against HIV/AIDS in the United States, at a time when the awaited release of alarming new Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data is expected to show a stark increase in the HIV rate in the US--a rate believed to be between 35% to 50% higher than the previous CDC estimates of 40,000 new US HIV cases annually.

"We thank the President for his initial call on Congress to create PEPFAR five years ago, and commend him tonight for his ongoing commitment to ensure that PEPFAR's reach and lifesaving impact will be felt for years after he leaves office," said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which provides treatment, care and services to more than 62,000 individuals in 20 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia. "However, because the need for global AIDS treatment and services remains so great, we strongly urge the President to ask for--and for Congress to appropriate--additional funding for PEPFAR above and beyond the $30 billion called for tonight. We also urge Congress to quickly reauthorize this legislation so that this worthy program does not get sidelined by election year politics."

According to USA Today, "The five-year, $30 billion (PEPFAR) proposal aims to provide treatment for about 2.5 million people infected with the disease and preventive measures for about 12 million others. The initiative, originally approved by Congress in 2003 at $15 billion over five years, operates in 15 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and the Caribbean."

"We also want to see PEPFAR amended to expand the limited number of focus countries to include countries such as Cambodia, a country that not only has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in Asia, but also has the commitment of its national government to rapidly scale-up treatment access," said Terri Ford, Director of Global Advocacy for AIDS Healthcare Foundation in a statement from India. "On the whole, the basic structure of PEPFAR, such as treatment floors, is sound. Certain other components can and should be modified, including measures to better control the cost of drugs, decentralizing care so that more people can access it, and emphasizing the need for HIV testing in order to get people into treatment and help break the chain of infection. We also call for the addition of countries like Swaziland, which is being devastated by HIV/AIDS with a prevalence rate of 40%, and is in desperate need of immediate PEPFAR aid."

"We support President Bush's call for the reauthorization of PEPFAR and his proposed increase in funding for the program; however, we also want to encourage the Administration and PEPFAR officials to expand its team of experienced partners who can better implement both cost-effective and sustainable treatment programs on the ground," said Henry E. Chang, Chief of Global Affairs for AIDS Healthcare Foundation in a statement from Amsterdam. "When President Bush first unveiled PEPFAR several years ago, he said this effort will be judged by how many lives are saved, and we couldn't agree more. We urge PEPFAR officials to work more closely with community organizations in the US and abroad to stretch every dollar to save the most lives possible--this will be key to ensuring that resources directed to this commendable global AIDS initiative have maximum impact and that PEPFAR enjoys continued, improving and expanded successes worldwide."

"On the domestic front, AHF was saddened to see President Bush miss an opportunity tonight to take a real leadership position in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the US," said Whitney Engeran, III, Director of AIDS Healthcare Foundation's Public Health Division. "The CDC has not yet publicly released its newest US HIV numbers, but AIDS researchers, medical providers and advocates nationwide are expecting these latest numbers to show an alarming 35% to 50% increase in US HIV rates--between 54,000 to 60,000 new infections identified annually. According to CDC officials, that data is currently under "peer review" at a scientific journal and will not be officially released to the public until later in 2008. The delay in providing the information closed the door on an opportunity to halt this trend, as the President did not confront the challenge in his address, nor is the necessary increased funding for stepped up HIV prevention and testing in the domestic fight against AIDS in his Administration's 2008 budget."

NOTE:

MEDIA AVAILABILITY: AHF President Michael Weinstein will be available to comment on President Bush's PEPFAR funding proposal and the neglect of domestic AIDS. Contact him via +1.323.810.1238 (mobile) or via email [e-mail].

About AHF

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the nation's largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare, research, prevention and education provider. AHF currently provides medical care and/or services to more than 62,000 individuals in 20 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia. Additional information is available at www.aidshealth.org.