International AIDS Society welcomes new funding commitments by the US Government announced at AIDS 2012 by Secretary Hillary Clinton
Thursday, 26 July, 2012 (Washington D.C., USA) - The International AIDS Society (IAS) applauds
the U.S. Government for pledging new funds to further their response to HIV. The
announcement was made by the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, at the 19th International
AIDS Conference currently being held in Washington D.C.
"The United States is committed and will remain committed to achieving an AIDS free
generation. We will not back off. We will not back down. We will fight for the resources
necessary to achieve this historic milestone." stated Secretary Clinton.
Elly Katabira, President of the International AIDS Society and International Chair of AIDS 2012
welcomed the announcement.
"The USA has been at the forefront of the fight against HIV for many years. To hear that they
are ramping up their efforts is excellent," said Katabira. "Their commitment is a great example
for all countries to fulfill their obligations. Only by having universal commitment and funding will
we manage to turn the tide on the HIV epidemic."
During her keynote address at the conference Secretary Clinton spoke about new U.S. funding
totalling US$150 million to spearhead further efforts in reducing HIV transmission among key
populations. She stated that frank open discussions were needed for this to happen: "If we're
going to beat AIDS, we can't afford to avoid sensitive conversations, and we can't afford not to
reach the people who are at the highest risk."
Secretary Clinton announced three new efforts by the U.S. Government to reach key
populations:
investing U.S.$15 million in implementation research to identify the specific
interventions that are most effective for each key population;
launching a $20 million challenge fund that will support country-led plans to expand services for key populations;
investing $2 million through the Robert Carr Civil Society Network Fund to bolster the efforts of civil society groups to reach key populations
Secretary Clinton stated that joint efforts were needed in the HIV response and spoke of
leveraging public-private partnerships, in addition to coordinating with The Global Fund to Fight
AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which receives major support from The Gates Foundation..
She highlighted that PEPFAR is now providing anti-retroviral treatment to almost 4.5 million
people worldwide and is on its way to reach its goal of six million by the end of next year.
Secretary Clinton underlined the commitment of the U.S. to support the elimination of the
transmission of HIV from infected, pregnant women to their babies by 2015 and how this can be
achieved by getting mothers treated with anti-retroviral drugs. Currently 370,000 women globally
are being treated to prevent vertical transmission and PEPFAR is on target to reach an
additional 1.5 million women by next year. The U.S. will dedicate US$80 million to support
innovative approaches to ensure HIV-positive, pregnant women get the treatment they need to
prevent their babies being born with the virus.
Another US$40million has been earmarked by the U.S. for the South African Government´s
plan to provide voluntary male circumcision for almost half a million young men and boys in the
coming year are provided. Secretary Clinton also announced an additional US$40 million from
PEPFAR to support these efforts.
END
For more information:
Francesca Da Ros (Geneva, Switzerland)
IAS Communications and Media Officer
Email: Francesca.Daros@iasociety.org
Tel: +41 22 710 0822
Mob: +41 796 109679
Michael Kessler
International Media Consultant
michael.kessler@aids2012.org
Mob:+1 202 430 2160
Skype: micgkpi
www.iasociety.org
About the IAS
The International AIDS Society (IAS) is the world's leading independent association of HIV
professionals, with over 16,000 members from more than 196 countries working at all levels of
the global response to AIDS. Our members include researchers from all disciplines, clinicians,
public health and community practitioners on the frontlines of the epidemic, as well as policy
and programme planners. The IAS is the custodian of the biennial International AIDS
Conference, which will be held in Washington, D.C., in July 2012, and lead organizer of the IAS
Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention. www.iasociety.org | www.aids2012.org
"Reproduced with permission - International AIDS Society"
International AIDS Society
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