5 May 2008 - In the News, Other
World AIDS Orphans Day is just 2 days away! Help by calling upon your senators to reauthorize and fully fund the PEPFAR bill. The Global AIDS Alliance has developed a set of tools and resources to help you to speak up for AIDS orphans. We can't emphasize it enough, your voice and your call really does count. Place the call.
ABOUT THE BILL
Last month the US House of Representatives took a very important step forward for children affected by HIV/AIDS. The House voted overwhelmingly in favor of a new, five-year strategy for HIV/AIDS, and it is a plan that takes very seriously the terrible suffering of children who are directly and indirectly affected by this disease.
Father Terry Charlton, who runs a school for children affected by HIV/AIDS in Kenya, put it best when he urged Congress pass this bill: “Unless the U.S. AIDS program goes forward, and is actually funded at the authorized level, together with programs that address the broader context of the epidemic, the ones who suffer the most will be the children I work with every day.”
Here are some of the most exciting aspects of this bill -- and you'll see why it's so important that you contact your Senators NOW to urge their part to make this plan a reality (see the action ideas below)
- The bill states that 15 percent of those receiving treatment under PEPFAR must be children, consistent with the infection rate. Plus, it sets a target of 80 percent of pregnant women in the most affected countries receiving HIV counseling and testing and, where necessary, antiretroviral treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission.
- At least 10% of the money for US AIDS programs must be spent on orphaned and vulnerable children. This funding can be used for a broad range of programs, including vocational training, school-based feeding programs and psychological and emotional care.
- This bill will make some important progress toward addressing the terrible shortage of pediatricians in many of the hardest hit countries. A shocking report on ABC News revealed that in the African country of Lesotho there are only 6 pediatricians!
- The bill also recommends the kind of funding we need to help children. The legislation authorizes about $30 billion for AIDS programs sponsored by the US government, plus another $20 billion for US programs on TB and malaria and for the US contribution to the Global Fund. That's a total of $50 billion! The funding for malaria is extremely important since malaria is a major killer of children. Of course, this funding level is basically just a recommendation, since Congress has to take the next step by actually providing the funding on a yearly basis (this is called "appropriations"). However, it gives us real momentum to get the funding for proven, effective measures to help children!
It builds on an already impressive track record: By last October, the US program on AIDS had provided AIDS treatment to about 86,000 children and supported prevention of an estimated 157,000 infant HIV infections. In addition, by giving to the Global Fund, the US has also provided resources to programs that are saving the lives of countless children.
TAKE ACTION TODAY TO HELP CHILDREN!
Your Senators needs to hear from you that this bill matters! The Senate's version of the bill was approved at the committee level on March 13 (S. 2731), but it has stalled on its way to the Senate floor.
We need your help TODAY to urge the Senate to bring this bill to the floor for a debate and a vote. Once the bill passes the Senate, we can use the process of reconciling the House and Senate versions to address a few remaining problems with this critically important legislation.
President Bush has indicated he is eager to sign the bill into law, so he can use the bill to pressure other countries attending the July G8 Summit to also do more to fight AIDS.
Please contact your Senator today. It's really easy and you DO NOT need to be an expert...just someone who cares about kids!
Call 202-224-3121, and ask for the office of each of your Senators. Send them an email too!
What to Say:
May I speak to the staff person who handles aid to poor countries? My name is __________, and I am a constituent of Senator _________. I am calling to urge him/her to co-sponsor S 2731, the global AIDS reauthorization bill. This bill will provide lifesaving programs to those most in need, as well as make great strides in protecting orphans and other vulnerable children.
I would also like to ask that Senator _______ contact Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to ask that the bill be brought to the floor as soon as possible. Can I count on my Senator to do this?
Please email grassroots@globalaidsalliance.org to let us know how your call went!
Status report: Currently, the bill, which was authored by Senator Biden, has seven co-sponsors:
Sen Dodd
Sen Durbin
Sen Hagel
Sen Kennedy
Sen Kerry
Sen Lugar
Sen Sununu
