Press Releases 2004

World AIDS day is December 1

1 December 2004

US Commitment to Combating AIDS

World AIDS Day is December 1. The people of the United States, through President George W. Bush’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, have taken on a leadership role in this fight, providing an unprecedented $15 billion for the fight. The U.S. plan is the largest commitment ever by a nation toward an international health initiative for a single disease, and we are now urgently employing the best practices available to fight this disease and bring hope.

The American people have invested $2.4 billion in the fight this year – more than all other donor governments combined -- and will provide even more this coming year. America is working with our partners in-country and supporting national strategies to extend lives and ameliorate the suffering caused by HIV/AIDS worldwide.

Bilateral U.S. programs combat the disease in more than 100 countries. Our strategy places a special emphasis on 15 nations in Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia that represent approximately half of the world’s infections.

This year’s World AIDS Day observance focuses on women and girls. For example, we have programs aimed at preventing mother-to-child-transmission, preventing sexual violence and exploitation, and helping men and boys to develop healthy relationships with women.

International cooperation is also central to the U.S. strategy. In 2001, the U.S. helped create the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. The American people provided its founding contribution, and remain by far its largest donor nation today.

We also work closely with other donors and international organizations, such as The United Nations Joint Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Now is the time for all the nations of the world to come together in a spirit of dramatically increased commitment – including resources -- to stop HIV/AIDS. The American people are playing our part, working together with all who share the goal of turning the tide against HIV/AIDS. There is no time to lose.


Contact: Jim Bond or Dick Custin, U.S. Embassy Public Affairs, (022) 504-2323