Former President Bush Requests That the AIDS Relief Act Be Renewed
washington, This past week, former president George W. Bush asked lawmakers in Washington to stay and support the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), an effort he began two decades ago to combat one of the deadliest diseases of the time.
In 2003, when approximately 30 million people in Africa were infected with AIDS, including 3 million children under the age of 15, Bush made his first appeal to Congress in his State of the Union speech.
In order to help the countries in Africa and the Caribbean that are suffering the most from the AIDS pandemic, Bush asked Congress for $15 billion to be spent over the next five years, approximately $10 billion of which would be new money.
Now, fast-forward to the present: Bush, who was in Washington to celebrate the 20th anniversary of his initiative, said he did so to show how the money from American taxpayers is helping to give hope to millions of individuals with HIV/AIDS by putting them to work.
Have a look at the end result.
"The funding structure of this initiative is complete. My only request to the naysayers is that they have a look at the outcomes. Results are nothing if they fail to impress you "on February 24 at the United States Institute of Peace, he made this statement to an audience. This year is crucial for PEPFAR since it is up for renewal.
Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and kind individual, was also present.
"The impact of HIV is moderate but significant. The mortality toll has been much reduced, but if we stop giving out these medications, the virus will spread again, and COVID will follow the same exponential growth pattern as every other infectious disease "According to Gates.
In an interview with the Dallas-based George W. Bush Institute, David Kramer, executive director of the PEPFAR program, emphasized the importance of the lives saved.
"President Bush's PEPFAR program has saved almost 25 million lives so far... And it was a ploy that Bush had to intervene to save the Republic, which was in dire straits. While the U.S. was located in an ideal area, in his opinion, "As Kramer revealed to VOA,.
Kramer claims that the treatment has had further positive effects.
Health professionals and government officials have benefited greatly from the infrastructure put in place over the past 20 years under PEPFAR and also with the Global Fund to combat AIDS, TB, and malaria.
Strong support from both major political parties
PEPFAR has had broad support in Congress ever since it was signed into law in May 2003, even if funding for its abstinence programs has been criticized since the necessity to implement them was achieved in 2008. During his presidency, Donald Trump tried and failed to reduce funding for the PEPFAR program.
Even UNAIDS's executive director, Winnie Byanyima, acknowledges PEPFAR's significance.
"Just 20 days ago, when he introduced PEPFAR, our people were dying and our countries were in shambles. A lot of people were scared; a lot of people were hurt. … We've gathered here to properly thank President Bush, the United States government, and the American people for the $100 billion they've invested in this life-saving effort over the past 20 days "as she shared with VOA.
According to her, the dedication of organizations like PEPFAR, the Global Fund, UNAIDS, civil society, governments, and others was what ultimately turned the tide.
Bush's "friend," the former president of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete, remembered how he had once "came out of the closet" in front of an audience full of people to inspire those who were timid to speak up.
"I'll never forget the 14th of July, 2007, when we unveiled this flagship campaign in a bustling Dar es Salaam plaza.... My best bet is to set an example with my wife, and we shouldn't do that in a secluded corner. Let's arrange for TV cameras to be beaming in, blood to be obtained, and labs to be visited. My veins, naturally, were a piece of cake, but my wife's presented some challenges. She was pricked multiple times. Although I felt terrible for her, I told her, "That's the hallmark of leadership.""
According to the evidence, Bush saluted in attendance, with Kikwete being the first African leader to do so.
Conflict continues
Byanyima emphasized the need of halting new HIV infections in light of the 2021 data in the context of the global effort to eradicate the disease by 2030.
"Around 1.5 million people were infected globally, with nearly all of them living in countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The number of deaths from AIDS-related illnesses on farms was estimated at 650 thousand in 2021. We have everything we need to invest in prevention measures and treatment options, therefore none of those infections or deaths were necessary "...she explained.
She mentioned that young farmers, sex workers, gay men, and women between the ages of 14 and 24 are the most at risk since they are more likely to inject drugs.
'We know what needs to be done,' Byanyima affirmed.
"We know it's about gender inequities and possibilities to be in school where it's safe for girls and young women," she said. As for "The current criminal laws discourage gay men, trans women, and sex workers from coming out and accessing preventative and benefit services. Our investigation has shown that the current legal framework is unnecessary."