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For Immediate Release
May 27, 2003
World Vision President Praises Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
New law should move G-8 members to increase funding
WASHINGTON – Calling the AIDS pandemic “the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time,” World Vision President Richard E. Stearns today praised President George W. Bush and Congress for their “unified, compassionate and generous response” to help those affected by AIDS, especially widows, orphans and vulnerable children.
The Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief approves $15 billion for AIDS prevention, treatment and care. With the president scheduled today to sign the legislation Stearns expressed hope that the new law will serve as a catalyst for other world leaders, especially those at next week’s G-8 summit in France, to designate more funds for similar efforts as well.
“The speed at which this bill was passed is almost unprecedented, and the president and Congress are to be commended for their unified, compassionate and generous response,” Stearns said. “Every day action is delayed, 8,500 people die of AIDS, and 14,000 people are infected.”
Programs funded by the legislation could prolong the lives of 2 million people infected with AIDS, as well as prevent 7 million additional infections and care for children orphaned and made vulnerable by the disease.
Currently, all G-8 nations provide funding for AIDS prevention care and treatment through bilateral programs and multilateral initiatives like the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis. However, none gives more than 0.8 of one percent of their annual budget to fight the spread of AIDS.
CONTACTS: mediainfo@worldvision.org |
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