{"id":141752,"date":"2018-11-27T13:08:08","date_gmt":"2018-11-27T18:08:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.one.org\/us\/?post_type=one_press&p=141752"},"modified":"2018-11-27T13:08:08","modified_gmt":"2018-11-27T18:08:08","slug":"wad2018","status":"publish","type":"one_press","link":"https:\/\/www.one.org\/us\/press\/wad2018\/","title":{"rendered":"Ahead of World AIDS Day, ONE sounds the alarm: AIDS is not a disease of the past, it\u2019s a crisis now"},"content":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON \u2014 Ahead of World AIDS Day (Saturday, December 1st), The ONE Campaign is sounding the alarm that AIDS is not a disease of the past, it\u2019s a crisis that currently claims more than 2,500 lives every day. Because the fight against AIDS is off-track, and we are unlikely to reach many of the targets for treatment and prevention that experts set for 2020, President Donald Trump and lawmakers should recommit to increasing the number of people who can get the treatment they need to survive.<\/p>\n

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Mr. Trump said America was \u201cgoing to lead the way<\/a>\u201d in the AIDS fight, and committed to doubling the number of people on treatment by the year 2020. At another event, he also said America\u2019s current level of investment in the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria \u2014 contributing one-third of the total raised by the Fund \u2014 \u201csounds good\u201d and that it\u2019s \u201cthe kind of thing we should be doing.\u201d<\/a> But instead of fulfilling President Trump\u2019s campaign commitment, his White House has twice proposed massive cuts to the global AIDS response.<\/p>\n

The Global Fund, which is set to be replenished next year, has been one of the most effective and efficient health organizations on the planet, and one of the world\u2019s strongest tools in the fight against AIDS. Last month, a bipartisan group of 18 senators<\/a> wrote a letter to Secretary Pompeo asking him to support a three-year pledge to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) for 2020-2022 that exceeds the last Replenishment.<\/p>\n

Tom Hart, North America executive director at The ONE Campaign, said:<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAIDS is not a disease of the past, it\u2019s a crisis now, and if we don\u2019t move faster than the virus, then it will win. Despite the jaw-dropping daily death toll and truly alarming infection rates among girls and young women in Africa, Congress has held just one hearing on AIDS in the past six years. The Trump Administration has now twice proposed massive budget cuts. Complacency today equals complicity tomorrow.<\/p>\n

\u201cPresident Trump has the opportunity to be the president who gets the AIDS fight back on track, but that won\u2019t be possible if his White House keeps trying to cut funding for it. Right now, the administration is deciding its budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2020. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo should ensure that his budget proposal is consistent with President Trump\u2019s campaign commitment and continues funding the Global Fund at one-third of its total. Requesting full funding for the Global Fund in the President\u2019s budget is the best way to send a strong signal to other donors and ensure that other countries do their share.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Melania Trump visited Africa this fall, she got an up close view of how America\u2019s leadership and generosity in the fight against global poverty and disease has saved lives and brought hope to millions. When the First Lady returned from Africa, she echoed the calls of many in the development community by \u2014 in the President\u2019s words \u2014 telling him: \u2018I hope you\u2019re going to continue to give a lot of money because they need it.\u2019<\/a> Even President Trump acknowledged that the First Lady\u2019s trip \u2018made a big impact\u2019 on him. As we race against the clock, millions of people are counting on it.\u201d<\/p>\n

FACTS ABOUT THE HIV\/AIDS CRISIS<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n