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Fact Sheet: World AIDS Day 2008
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For Immediate Release Office of the Press Secretary December 1, 2008

Fact Sheet: World AIDS Day 2008 President And Mrs. Bush Have Taken
Unprecedented Action In The Fight Against Global HIV/AIDS, With PEPFAR
Supporting Lifesaving Antiretroviral Treatment For More Than 2.1 Million
People

ÿÿWhite House News

ÿÿÿÿÿ In Focus: HIV/AIDS

Today, President and Mrs. Bush marked World AIDS Day 2008 with Pastor Rick
Warren at the Newseum and discussed the success of this Administration's
global HIV/AIDS initiative.ÿPresident and Mrs. Bush have made a historic
commitment to the fight against global HIV/AIDS.ÿ Since 2001, the
Administration has delivered more than $148ÿbillion to fight HIV/AIDS both
at home and abroad.ÿ Once again, this year, the White House will display
the red ribbon on the North Portico to represent the continued battle
against HIV/AIDS and to affirm the matchless value of every human life.

The United States Is Helping To Turn The Tide Against Global HIV/AIDS

The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the largest
commitment by any nation to combat a single disease in human history.ÿ When
the President launched this initiative in 2003, approximately 50,000 people
in all of sub-Saharan Africa were receiving anti-retroviral treatment.ÿ
  þ Ahead of schedule, the United States has fulfilled the President's
    commitment to support treatment for two million people. ÿAs of
    September 30, 2008, PEPFAR supported life-saving antiretroviral
    treatment for more than 2.1ÿmillion men, women, and children living
    with HIV/AIDS around the world, including more than 2 million people in
    sub-Saharan Africa.
  þ As of September 30, 2008, nearly 9.7 million people affected by
    HIV/AIDS in PEPFAR's focus countries had received compassionate care,
    including nearly 4 million orphans and vulnerable children.ÿ Globally,
    the UnitedÿStates is supporting care for more than 10.1 million people,
    including more than 4 million orphans and vulnerable children.
  þ Nearly 240,000 babies have been born HIV-free due to the support of the
    American people for programs to prevent mothers from passing the virus
    on to their children.
  þ In July, President Bush signed into law H.R. 5501, the Tom Lantos and
    Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS,
    Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act.ÿThis legislation will
    expand access to lifesaving antiretroviral drugs, prevent millions of
    new HIV infections, and provide compassionate care to millions of
    people affected by HIV/AIDS.ÿ Under this legislation, the next phase of
    the American people's generous commitment to those suffering from
    HIV/AIDS will support:
      þ Treatment for at least 3 million people;
      þ Prevention of 12 million new infections; and
      þ Care for 12 million people, including 5 million orphans and
        vulnerable children.

Faith-based and community organizations are important partners in the
implementation of PEPFAR, the President's Malaria Initiative, and other
U.S.-funded efforts. ÿPresident Bush's Faith-based and Community Initiative
empowers these organizations so that they can help create an effective,
multi-sectoral response to need.ÿ Faith-based and community organizations
are uniquely positioned to promote HIV/AIDS stigma-reduction and prevention
messages and provide counseling and testing, home care, clinical services,
and antiretroviral treatment, particularly in some of the hardest-to-reach
communities.ÿ Last year, 87 percent of PEPFAR partners were indigenous
organizations, and nearly a quarter were faith-based.ÿ

PEPFAR supports a comprehensive prevention portfolio.ÿIn addition to the
balanced, evidenced-based ABC (Abstain, Be faithful, and correct and
consistent use of Condoms) approach, the United States also supports
programs that address mother-to-child transmission, blood safety and safe
medical injections, male circumcision, injecting drug users, HIV-discordant
couples, alcohol abuse, and other key issues.

In 2008, President and Mrs. Bush traveled to Africa, where they witnessed
the effectiveness of PEPFAR firsthand.ÿAt the Amana District Hospital in
Tanzania, met with patients and saw the hope this program has given them,
in addition to visiting with doctors, nurses, and caregivers of many faiths
and backgrounds working to make a difference in the lives of their fellow
citizens.

In 2007 G-8 leaders made a commitment to complement U.S. efforts so that
together G-8 nations will support treatment for a total of five million
people, prevent 24 million new infections, and care for 24 million people,
including 10 million orphans and vulnerable children.

The United States is also working through multilateral organizations in the
global fight against HIV/AIDS.ÿ TheÿUnited States is the largest
contributor to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria,
providing more than $3.3 billion since 2001.ÿ

Mrs. Bush has focused domestic and international attention on PEPFAR.ÿMrs.
Bush has visited 10 of the 15 PEPFAR focus countries.ÿ In addition, she
emphasizes the link between improved education and disease prevention in
nations around the world.ÿ

Here At Home, The Administration Is Dedicated To Helping The More Than One
Million Americans Living With HIV/AIDS

The Administration has worked to address the needs of people living with
HIV/AIDS and to prevent new HIV infections within the United States.ÿ
Approximately one in five people living with HIV _ 21 percent _ are unaware
of their infection.ÿ
  þ Since 2001, the Administration has devoted more than $99 billion to
    treatment and care for people living with HIV/AIDS in the United
    States, increasing annual treatment funding byÿ40 percent.ÿIn addition,
    the Administration has devotedÿmore than $20 billion to domestic
    HIV/AIDS research to help develop new methods of treatment and
    prevention, increasing research funding by 21 percent during this same
    time period.

The Administration has successfully implemented the Ryan White HIV/AIDS
Treatment Modernization Act, in order to help ensure that AIDS patients can
receive treatment, including lifesaving drugs.ÿSince the 2006
reauthorization of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act, the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is better targeting Federal
resources to assist areas with the greatest needs.ÿ
  þ The Ryan White AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) provided lifesaving
    HIV/AIDS medications to more than 157,000 people and helped provide
    more than two million outpatient health care visits in 2006.ÿ

President Bush supported voluntary HIV tests becoming a routine part of
care so all Americans could know their status.ÿ The President's 2009 budget
requested $93 million for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) HIV Testing Initiative that focuses on areas of populations with the
highest burden of disease.

President Bush has encouraged State and local HIV prevention efforts and
outreach to high-risk populations.ÿ Theÿnumber of HIV/AIDS cases is
especially high in the African American, Hispanic, and gay communities, as
well as among injecting drug users and prisoners.ÿ TheÿTargeted Capacity
Expansion Program for Substance Abuse Treatment and HIV/AIDS Services
grants support providers across the United States in traditionally
underserved communities.
  þ The CDCÿcontinues to work in partnership with State and local health
    departments, national and regional organizations, and community-based
    organizations, supporting a wide range of science-based activities to
    monitor the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States and increase
    effective HIV prevention programs for persons living with HIV and at
    risk for HIV infection.

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