Around the world: the cost of treating AIDS has fallen in recent years, but millions still die for the lack of medicine. My goal is to change that.
—- By Bill Clinton
Newsweek
May 15, 2006.

Bill Clinton, America’s forty-second President talked about his work in an editorial by Newsweek on May 15th. He spoke about a friend of his living with aids whom he tried to help, about his fight against the growing populace of AIDS in America and the world in general. He spoke about his determination to combat AIDS to a standstill upon leaving office. He said and I quote “When I left the White House, I wanted to do more to stem the number of deaths from AIDS in the developing world, especially in Africa, home to more than two thirds of the people with the virus, and in Asia, Eastern Europe and the Caribbean, where HIV/AIDS was spreading rapidly. It was clear that the prices for medicines and tests, which fell substantially between 2000 and 2002, needed to come down even more. Over the past few years, it has been especially gratifying to see political leaders in the developing world take ever-stronger stands against AIDS, a movement I have tried to encourage. At an AIDS conference at Beijing’s Tsinghua University a few years ago, a courageous young man, Peng Fei Song, stood up in the audience and identified himself as HIV-positive. I invited him onstage and gave him a hug. Then I brought him over to shake hands with a group of government officials who were also onstage. This was all on national television. Soon afterward, the premier met with AIDS activists, and the president visited AIDS patients in a hospital. Now government officials at all levels are working to strengthen China’s response to the epidemic.” He also spoke about his love for the places he visits. “I love returning to places I have visited to witness the effects of AIDS treatment. Years ago, I met two young twins in the Caribbean who were born with HIV and were probably only a few weeks from dying. Last year when I saw them, they were healthy, smiling and able to give me big strong hugs. Moments like those are too rare. Despite these flashes of hope and the very real progress being made, millions are still being left behind. For every child we save in the Caribbean, India, China and Africa, thousands are dying every day because they are not getting treatment. Last year at this time, my foundation pledged to double the number of children receiving AIDS treatment outside of Brazil and Thailand (which are ahead of other countries in providing pediatric care). We have met that goal by reducing drug prices, getting funding from private philanthropists and helping to train health workers. That may sound good, but only 40,000 of the 660,000 children who now need treatment are getting it. Even if we add another 50,000 this year, and other donors do more, hundreds of thousands of children will still die needlessly. My goal is to increase the number on treatment fivefold.” One and all, suport Bill Clinton in his quest to improve care.

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Tags: Bill Clinton, America, AIDS,

Source:Clinton Foundation

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