December 11, 2018
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, just over a week after the 30th anniversary of World AIDS Day, President Trump signed the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Extension Act of 2018 into law. The bill reauthorizes U.S. investment in PEPFAR and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund). Chris Collins, president of Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Friends), released the following statement:
“Friends commends the continued bipartisan Congressional support for U.S. efforts to address the global AIDS epidemic, as well as the malaria and TB epidemics. Thanks to the generosity of the U.S. over the last 15 years, we’ve been able to radically transform the global response to AIDS. But in many countries, HIV infections remain extremely high. This bill is a reminder that the epidemic still requires urgent attention, funding and U.S. leadership to end the epidemic.”
Jonathan Klein, Board Chair of Friends, added:
“Over the past 15 years, PEPFAR has made a profound impact – saving more than 17 million lives, providing antiretroviral treatment to 14.6 million people living with HIV and restoring hope to vulnerable communities around the world. Renewing the U.S. commitment to the fight against AIDS is a step in the right direction, but the fact remains: we are not on track to end this epidemic. Moving forward, we must continue to advocate for new investments in PEPFAR and the Global Fund to create the momentum we need to get back on course and end this epidemic for good.”
The reauthorization bill will extend PEPFAR provisions through FY2023, including those that regulate U.S. contributions to the Global Fund. PEPFAR and the Global Fund work collaboratively in countries around the world with the highest HIV infections rates, and thanks to the partnership between the two programs, more than 20 million people now have access to lifesaving AIDS treatment.
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ABOUT FRIENDS OF THE GLOBAL FIGHT AGAINST AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS AND MALARIA
Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria advocates for U.S. support of the Global Fund, and the goal to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. For more information about Friends of the Global Fight, visit www.theglobalfight.org.
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Sarah Hollis
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