Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation Praises President Bush For $15 Billion Emergency AIDS Relief
President’s Bold Action Could Lead to Rapid Access to Life-Saving HIV Treatments for Millions of People Living With HIV
San Francisco, Jan. 31, 2003 — The Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director of the Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation Dr. Eric Goosby, said today that: “President Bush has single-handedly changed the course of the global fight against AIDS” by announcing a $15 billion emergency response to the pandemic that will finally bring life-sustaining HIV treatment and care to millions of people living with HIV in the developing world.
Dr. Goosby, Pangaea’s CEO and medical director said, “The President was absolutely correct in characterizing this initiative as a historic opportunity to save millions of lives.” He continued, “We agree with the President’s comments today that everybody in this world has worth and everybody matters. We applaud the President’s courage, compassion and most importantly his actions.”
The Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation is an affiliate of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and is focused on broadening access to HIV treatment and care in the developing world. The organization is coordinating and engaged in HIV treatment access initiatives in Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda.
Specifically, the President’s focus on utilizing existing hospitals, drawing on the knowledge of local health care providers and supporting the provision of HIV antiretroviral drugs is key to the success of his emergency plan for AIDS relief.
The President’s approach to utilize and expand existing health infrastructure in Africa is the quickest route to getting life-saving medicine to those in dire need. Goosby said “In treating patients in Africa, I have seen firsthand the ‘Lazurus effect’ that the President referenced. The President did not overstate the power of HIV treatments and the hope they give communities.”
While very supportive of the President’s action, Goosby also called on the President and the Congress to continue to expand the U.S. commitment to the Global Fund on AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria by contributing a minimum of $2 billion dollars in the coming fiscal year. We commend the President’s continued support of the Global Fund and believe there is also a well-justified need to expand the U.S. contribution."
In his announcement today, the President also announced a recommitment to the HIV epidemic in the United States. “We believe there is a critical need to greatly expand the domestic effort, and we encourage the President to take the same bold action he has now demonstrated in his global response.”
Media Contact: Redge Norton, Media Relations Manager, San Francisco AIDS Foundation