PHR Action Center
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The World is Waiting, Mr. President. Stop AIDS Now.
The reauthorization of the US Global AIDS Bill (PEPFAR)-now the single largest AIDS program in history-is a huge victory for the millions of people affected by HIV/AIDS around the globe. PHR members made reauthorization a reality and tripled the price of the original program to $48 billion. However, our work is far from over. In order to attain the right to health worldwide, we must ensure effective and integrated health systems which are responsive to national and local priorities, and accessible to all. If implemented with a visionary, rights-based approach, PEPFAR can fight AIDS and make the right to health a reality. The task of implementing and improving this lifesaving program will fall to the new President. The powerful voice of health professionals is needed to hold the next Administration accountable to the commitments outlined in the PEPFAR-and to creating a vision of global health that is rights based. Please sign this petition calling on the next President to ensure that the right to health becomes a reality for all.
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , Dear President-Elect of the United States of America, We, the undersigned, call on you to ensure that the Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 is fully implemented under your Administration. You have the unique opportunity change the course of history by stopping AIDS and supporting the development of health systems which promote, protect and fulfill human rights. Your Administration must build upon the successes of this program's first 5 years and learn from its shortcomings so that it becomes a hallmark of your Presidency. Use the full power of your Administration to uphold a legacy of American goodwill by ensuring these six key policy goals: - To meet the promises outlined in the legislation, PEPFAR must be fully funded at the authorized $48 billion level. - In addressing the feminization of HIV/AIDS, the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) must acknowledge the importance of the integration of family planning and HIV services and find ways this can be implemented through PEPFAR. - OGAC must ensure that in 5 years PEPFAR funding has trained and retained at least 140,000 new health professionals and paraprofessionals - especially doctors and nurses. - The Department of Health and Human Services must complete the repeal of the HIV travel ban by removing HIV from the list of diseases that automatically bar entry to the U.S. - OGAC must ensure that organizations operating needle and syringe services are eligible and encouraged to apply for PEPFAR support for funded services. - Parallel to the international efforts of PEPFAR, your administration should support domestic efforts to develop a comprehensive National AIDS Strategy to ensure the US is a leader at home and abroad.
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| Background Information |
The ABC approach (Abstinence until marriage; Being faithful; use of Condoms) does not respond to the complex health needs of women and girls, nor to their basic human rights. What women need are integrated, comprehensive, non discriminatory health services that focus on both HIV and the full spectrum of reproductive health services.
The dramatic health worker shortages across Africa cripples the ability to respond to the epidemic. The right to health demands that health workers be well trained and equitability distributed in order to provide everyone with quality health care. PEPFAR must reach the goal of training 140,000 new health care workers, especially doctors and nurses.
The discriminatory HIV+ travel ban is still in effect: the US must stop this human rights violation if it wants to be seen as a leader in public health and AIDS worldwide.
1/3 of new HIV cases outside of sub-Saharan African are from injection drug use-and less than 5% of injecting drug users have access to HIV prevention services of any kind. PEPFAR must protect the health and human rights of IDUs and ensure they have comprehensive access to prevention, care and treatment.
Over a million people in the United States are living with HIV; 56,000 were infected last year alone. A comprehensive National AIDS Strategy is critical to ensure the US is a leader at home and abroad.
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