By NNN-CMC
Washington : The Caribbean could benefit from increased United States funding to fight the deadly HIV/AIDS disease, it emerged Friday.
US President George W. Bush has called on Congress to approve additional funding to fight the disease which has been having a disastrous impact on countries in the Caribbean and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Bush made the appeal, in recognition of World AIDS Day, for an additional US$30 billion over the next five years to address the scourge.
“World AIDS Day is both a day of sadness and a day of hope,” Bush said after he and First Lady Laura Bush participated in a roundtable in Mount Airy, Maryland, with faith-based groups about their roles in the global battle against HIV/AIDS.
“We will turn the tide against HIV/AIDS, once and for all,” he continued, appealing to Congress to reauthorise the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Bush said PEPFAR will continue to support those served by the programme and further expand efforts to build on the programme’s success.
“With full implementation of the ‘Partnership Compact’ model proposed by the President, maintenance of the successful grassroots collaborations with faith-based groups, and a continued emphasis on preventing infection through behavioral changes, live saving progress will continue,” the White House said in a statement afterwards.
“If Congress appropriates the funds, the next phase of the American people’s commitment to those suffering from HIV/AIDS will support treatment for 2.5 million people, prevention of more than 12 million new infections and care for more than 12 million people,” it added.
The White House said the US is “on track” to exceed Bush’s $15 billion over five years for PEPFAR to support treatment for two million people, prevention of seven million new infections, and care for 10 million people.
It said PEPFAR is the largest international health initiative ever dedicated to a single disease.
As of September 30, PEPFAR was supporting life-saving antiretroviral treatment for about 1.36 million people living with HIV/AIDS in 15 focus countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.
“This life-saving treatment provides healing and hope to those affected by HIV/AIDS,” the statement said.
It said PEPFAR works with partners in host nations to support local capacity and sustain prevention, treatment, and care efforts “long after the initial five years of the Emergency Plan”.
Over 80 per cent of PEPFAR partners are indigenous organisations, including faith-and community-based groups.
“Every year American taxpayers send billions of their hard-earned dollars overseas to save the lives of people they have never met,” Bush said.
“In return for this extra generosity, Americans expect results,” he said.
“We have pioneered a new model for public health,” he continued. “So far, the results have been striking”.