AIDS activists applauded the renewed focus on the disease’which remains the leading cause of death among women around the world. Clinton’s emphasis on the use of antiretroviral medicines to save lives and prevent new HIV infections was especially welcomed. AIDS activists agreed that new US science has created a moment of opportunity and activists urged President Obama to now lead action.
‘Secretary Clinton laid out a bold vision today,’ said Matthew Kavanagh, Director of US Advocacy for Health GAP.
‘Her speech could be the foundation for the US administration to lead the world to end the AIDS crisis. And it raises high expectations among all those who heard it: we expect that President Obama will now take leadership and dramatically ramp up PEPFAR antiretroviral treatment targets as well as scaling up other highly impactful prevention technologies.
Clinton said, ‘Instead of falling behind year after year, we will, for the first time, get ahead of the pandemic. We will be on the path to an AIDS-free generation. That is the power of combination prevention.’
AIDS activists have been frustrated by the Obama administration’s lack of political leadership on global HIV and failures to make good on campaign pledges, especially on HIV treatment. The current PEPFAR strategy, for example, aims to reach only 4 million people with treatment by 2013’a goal that has nearly been met without a new plan to continue the fight. Secretary Clinton’s speech raised hopes the administration might step into a bolder, stronger leadership worldwide.
‘President Obama has a huge opportunity to follow up on Secretary Clinton’s call with a commitment to getting millions more access to AIDS treatment,’ said Asia Russell’speaking from Uganda. ‘With U.S.-funded science showing we can begin to end AIDS, now is the moment the President must act. The whole world is watching in the lead up to next year’s International AIDS Conference when tens of thousands of us will meet in Washington and it will be clear whether words have been followed with action.’
