The White House
President George W. Bush
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Leading The Worldwide Fight Against HIV/AIDS

      2007 State of the Union Policy Initiatives
      In Focus: HIV/AIDS Initiatives
     

Tonight, President Bush Will Discuss How The President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Is Meeting His Commitment Of $15 Billion Over Five Years To Support Treatment For 2 Million People, Prevention Of 7 Million New Infections, And Care For 10 Million People. PEPFAR is the largest international health initiative in history dedicated to a single disease. PEPFAR works worldwide, but targets 15 focus countries that are home to approximately half of the world's 39 million HIV-positive people: Botswana, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guyana, Haiti, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Vietnam, and Zambia.

Since First Providing Antiretroviral Treatment In January 2004, PEPFAR Has Supported This Life-Saving Treatment For Approximately 822,000 People Living With HIV/AIDS. This is taking place through bilateral programs in PEPFAR's 15 focus countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. Of the 822,000 individuals receiving treatment through PEPFAR, 61 percent are women and 9 percent are children age 14 and under.

The U.S. Supports The Most Diverse Prevention Portfolio Of Any International Partner. In addition to the ABC (Abstain, Be faithful, and the correct and consistent use of Condoms) approach, the U.S. supports programs that focus on prevention of mother-to-child transmission, on blood safety and safe medical injections, on injecting drug users, on HIV-discordant couples, on alcohol abuse, and on other key issues, including gender-specific programs.

The Administration Is Working To Help The 1 Million Americans Living With HIV/AIDS

The Administration Is Working To Address Americans Living With HIV/AIDS And To Prevent New HIV Infections. Of the approximately 40,000 new transmissions occurring annually in the United States, about half are spread by individuals unaware they are infecting others. The number of AIDS cases is especially high in the African-American, Hispanic, and gay communities, as well as among intravenous drug users and prisoners.

The President Is Dedicated To Ending Discrimination Against People Living With HIV/AIDS

The President Has Directed The Secretary Of State To Request And The Secretary Of Homeland Security To Develop A Categorical Waiver For HIV-Positive People Seeking To Enter The United States On Short-Term Visas. The President considers the participation of people living with HIV/AIDS a critical element in the global HIV/AIDS response. A 1993 law prohibits HIV-positive people from receiving visas to visit the United States without a waiver. A categorical waiver would enable HIV-positive people to enter the United States for short visits through a streamlined process.

More Information On The Administration's International And Domestic Response To HIV/AIDS Is Available At: www.pepfar.gov and www.AIDS.gov.


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