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Save the Children Applauds Bi-Partisan Action on President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
PEPFAR Reauthorization Combats Global HIV/AIDS
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A new mother awaits the results of her HIV/AIDS test. New legislation will expand prevention programs. |
Westport, Conn. (July 25, 2008) — Save the Children applauds yesterday's bi-partisan action by Congress to pass landmark legislation — known as the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief or PEPFAR — to combat AIDS globally. This legislation will bring hope and change to millions of children and their families living in AIDS-affected communities. Hundreds of thousands of children are already benefitting from the first five years of PEPFAR funding through Save the Children’s programs in Ethiopia, Haiti, Mozambique, Uganda and Vietnam.
It is encouraging to see the progress made and successes achieved over the past few years in supporting children affected by HIV/AIDS and in preventing new cases of HIV/AIDS, including the near eradication of pediatric AIDS in wealthier nations. Yet, more than 1,100 babies are infected every day with the HIV virus in poor countries. Tragically, most of these infections could be prevented with the tools and knowledge we already possess. And, only a fraction of the estimated 15 million children orphaned by HIV/AIDS are being reached with care and support services.
New Bill Would Triple U.S. International Aid for HIV/AIDS
The bill to reauthorize PEPFAR at $48 billion over the next five years will ensure the global community can continue to help children and families already benefitting from PEPFAR-funded programs, and can reach more children and families in urgent need. Save the Children is pleased that the bill’s provisions emphasize an expansion of prevention services with a focus on outreach to expectant and new mothers, and young people, the fastest growing population of new infections. In addition, we welcome the continued strong support for children orphaned and affected by AIDS.
Save the Children is committed to achieving PEPFAR’s target of reaching 80 percent of pregnant women with prevention and treatment programs, and over 6 million orphans and vulnerable children with social support services by 2014. We look forward to President Bush signing the bill into law, and to working with Congress and the new Administration to ensure these targets are met and that resources are applied effectively at the national and community level.
Additional Global Leadership and Investment Needed
While we welcome this Congressional action to help fight AIDS globally and the bill’s provision to provide $5 billion for malaria, a leading killer of young children in sub-Saharan Africa, these two diseases account for only 11 percent of the nearly 10 million children under age 5 who die each year from treatable and preventable causes like diarrhea, pneumonia and birth complications. Saving those young lives requires additional global leadership and investment through the delivery of a package of proven, low-cost health measures.
Save the Children urges Congress to support the Global Child Survival Act. This legislation, currently before Congress, would strengthen American leadership by investing in low-cost, highly effective, lifesaving interventions such as vitamins, antibiotics and vaccines that could help save the lives of millions of newborns and young children in the world's poorest countries.
