| January
31, 2003
AIDS Action applauds Bush’s call for Americans to test for HIV
“How
can you know if you don’t test; how can you help if you don’t
know?” With his bold statement, President Bush announced sweeping
changes that will dramatically improve this nation’s response
to the domestic and global pandemic, HIV/AIDS. In a White House
address before an audience that included the Presidential Advisory
Council on HIV/AIDS, leaders in the HIV/AIDS advocacy community,
leaders in the faith community, and providers of services for
people living with HIV, President Bush announced the removal of
barriers to testing by waiving federal regulations and allowing
the OraQuick Rapid HIV test to be used more widely in neighborhoods
and communities throughout the nation.
“We
must move quickly to increase the number of people who are tested
for HIV,” stated President Bush. “It's important for our citizens
to understand that there's (sic) 40,000 new infections every year
in this country. It's an issue. It's an issue we must continue
to deal with.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, approximately one-third of all people living with
HIV in the United States do not know their status. “The first
step in dealing with our HIV epidemic,” says Dr. Marsha Martin,
AIDS Action’s executive director, “is for everyone to get tested
and to know their HIV status. AIDS Action wholeheartedly endorses
the President’s call to action--it is time not just to talk but
to act on our convictions.”
President
Bush’s announcement today comes on the heels of his State of the
Union Address, where he outlined his plan to enhance HIV/AIDS
relief efforts on the African continent and in the Caribbean.
“Not only has President Bush voiced the right approach, he has
backed it with increased funding proposals, calling upon Congress
to follow his lead,” commented Ronald Johnson, chair of AIDS Action
Council’s Board of Directors. The President further articulated
his intent to lead our nation’s effort in addressing the HIV/AIDS
pandemic by declaring, “There is no doubt we can help the people
on the African continent while helping our own folks at home.”
AIDS
Action agrees with President Bush, “It is just the beginning.
But it's a pretty good start.” Dr. Martin responded, “The next
step is to create an effective infrastructure to respond to the
cases of HIV that we become aware of, due to the President’s expanded
testing initiative.” Currently, many programs lack the resources
to serve the people who have already been identified as living
with HIV/AIDS. Consequently, they will be unable to provide effective
treatment to those who would learn through this overdue expansion
of testing programs that they are also among the HIV positive.
President Bush’s action has demonstrated the type of leadership
that is vital to ensuring effective and compassionate responses
to the HIV epidemic, promoting the health of this nation’s families
and communities. “There's no doubt we can bring hope in all parts
of the world, not only in Africa, but in neighborhoods in our
own country where people wonder what the American Dream means,”
stated President Bush.
AIDS
Action is committed to working with President Bush’s new team:
Dr. Joseph O’Neill, Director of the Office of National AIDS Policy,
Tommy Thompson, Secretary, Health and Human Services, Dr. Bill
Frist Senate Majority Leader and Senator Russell Feingold to develop
a comprehensive system for diagnosis, treatment and prevention
“to turn the tide against AIDS.”
AIDS
Action Foundation strives to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic by working
for public policies that promote prevention against new infections,
provide care for people already living with HIV/AIDS, and support
the search for a cure. AIDS Action is the national voice of all
people living with HIV, representing community based organizations
across the country.
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