Pass PEPFAR by the July G8
May 30th, 2008 at 1:08 pm | posted by Virginia SimmonsIn an op-ed in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, two American health workers argue that the Senate must reauthorize PEPFAR before July’s G8 meeting.
Dr. Albertino Mualique is a soldier in one war that the United States is actually poised to win, and he needs a surge to definitively gain the upper hand. But some members of the Senate want to abandon him just when he most urgently requires their support. The 28-year-old doctor is battling tirelessly against the AIDS epidemic in Mozambique, one of 10 countries most afflicted by HIV. In the two rural districts where he works, he is the only physician for more than 150,000 people, nearly 25 percent of whom are infected with the virus…
The new PEPFAR must reaffirm our commitment, not just to the 2 million people already on treatment, but to the millions more who are dying right now from lack of access to care. But just seven senators are currently blocking a floor vote on the legislation, jeopardizing our ability to reach those millions in need just when they are starting to believe that AIDS is not a death sentence….
PEPFAR is one of the few positive faces of the U.S. in the world and arguably the United States’ most effective foreign policy in the past seven years. Before the critical G8 meeting in July, the Senate must reauthorize the program at the $50 billion funding level necessary to redouble our efforts to prevent the 7,000 new AIDS infections and 6,000 deaths occurring every day. Those heroic health care professionals so valiantly working under the harshest conditions must be particularly supported. Our global leadership is at stake.
Read Wendy Johnson and Jennifer Kasper’s full Seattle Post-Intelligencer op-ed here.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Thanks Virginia for posting this op-edfrom the Seattle newspaper regarding PEPFAR - every little bit of positive press helps us in fulfilling the necessity of making sure that PEPFAR is re-authorized by the Senate before the G8 conference in July.
ONE suggestion though for further outreach to the American public regarding the reason(s) why it’s important to vote FOR PEPFAR.
We need to be able to answer the question/comment that followed this op-ed in the link to be able to effectively reach the American People with our message.
In this downturn economy (I know this becasue I just lost my job this past Friday), people are gpoing to need to know what the “bang for the buck” (as Bono used to say) for them is in passing PEPFAR. Where do they benefit with the passage of this program?
In a downturn economy it’s not enough for us (unfortunately) to sing the same melody line that we’ve been singing in ONE for the last four years. The American People are looking at their pocketbooks and, with less change in their pockets, are less inclined to support programs like PEPFAR unless they can SEE HOW PEPFAR BENEFITS THEM.
This op-ed is lovely but it doesn’t answer the reader’s question. We need to show how PEPFAR not only benefits Africa but also BENEFITS US through more stable governments in Africa ( U.S. national security), more economically productive countries which will make better trading partners for U.S. goods, etc.
In other words, ONE WILL HAVE TO CONNECT THE DOTS for the American people as to how this program makes sense to this country at this point in our current economy & historical moment.
This is how ONE got started four years ago - by Bono & DATA connecting our movement with ideas that the American people could get behind and support.
I’m not saying that we change our melody line. I’m just saying that we have to UPDATE its delivery a bit to fit these uncertain times in the USA if we’re going to be successful for Africa.
Ask Bono about this - he’ll know what I’m saying. (smile)
ONE HEART, ONE HOPE, ONE VOICE, ONE LOVE - debbie
www.mpwn-uganda.org