Statement from Dr. Eric Goosby on President’s Leadership on Global AIDS
San Francisco, April 29, 2003 — Earlier today, at a gathering at the White House, President Bush urged Congress to pass legislation that would enact the Global AIDS initiative he highlighted in his State of the Union message in January 2003.
Dr. Eric Goosby, CEO and Chief Medical Officer of the Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, who was present for the President’s remarks at the White House, issued the following statement regarding the President’s leadership on the global AIDS pandemic and the need for swift Congressional action on this initiative:
“I am extremely heartened and gratified by the President’s ongoing leadership in the global battle against AIDS, particularly his acknowledgement of the need for a comprehensive, integrated approach that includes both treatment and prevention. As the President himself said, we cannot write off those who are already infected with HIV as an ‘expendable’ population; ‘integrating care and treatment with prevention’ is absolutely essential if we are truly going to end the pandemic and the human suffering caused by AIDS.”
It is now time for Congress to act and show similar leadership. The House should swiftly pass H.R. 1298 by Representatives Hyde and Lantos, the United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS Act of 2003. This bill should be passed without any amendments or restrictions that would undermine our efforts to fight the global pandemic. The Senate must also act by moving a similar bill as quickly as possible. This effort is critical to the health and well-being of the 42 million people worldwide living with HIV and the millions of others at risk for HIV infection.”
Pangaea was established to strategically address the global impact of HIV, particularly in developing countries, which account for 95% of all new HIV infections in the world. The organization's core focus is to broaden access to HIV drugs in the developing world and to support the development of an HIV vaccine. Towards these ends, Pangaea has initiated partnership that support the development of medical care services capable of delivering a full spectrum of HIV treatment and care, including distribution of HIV antiretroviral drugs. So far, Pangaea has launched HIV treatment access initiatives in Rwanda and South Africa. Pangaea is also engaged in a major project in Kampala, Uganda to construct an HIV clinic and training center in partnership with the Ugandan government, Pfizer Inc. and the Academic Alliance for AIDS Care and Prevention in Africa. In working in resource-constrained countries, Pangaea is committed to ensuring that its efforts lead to long-lasting and sustainable HIV treatment and care programs and that such programs are controlled by and tailored to the specific needs of the partner countries.
Media Contact: Redge Norton, Media Relations Manager, San Francisco AIDS Foundation