[ad_1]
Washington, DC, November 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) congratulates the US House and Senate on the adoption of HR 6651: PEPFAR Extension Act of 2018. This bill reflects of the long, bipartisan commitment to the president's emergency plan to fight AIDS (PEPFAR) and defeat HIV worldwide.
EGPAF thanks Senators Bob Corker (R-TN) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ), as well as representatives Ed Royce (R-CA), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Barbara Lee -CA), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) and Karen Bbad (D-CA) for their leadership and dedication to the global fight against HIV / AIDS. As one of the first partners and implementers of PEPFAR, EGPAF is proud to support the transformative progress that US investment has made since the program's inception in 2003.
"Power may have changed between Democrats and Republicans over the years, but the promise of PEPFAR has continued. And as the challenges posed by the AIDS epidemic have continued to evolve, PEPFAR has evolved. The success and longevity of this program is a testament to the commitment and generosity of the American people, "said Charles Lyons, President and CEO of EGPAF. "By giving more than 14 million people life-saving treatment and preventing countless infections, PEPFAR has stopped what appeared to be a ruthless tide. Now we must take the next critical steps, and faster. To create the first generation without AIDS, we need to intensify early infant diagnosis and involve children in treatment, involve adolescents in care and prevention, and ensure that every pregnant or badfeeding woman living with HIV has access to services. "
Every day, more than 400 children are infected with the virus. Although most will die before the age of five without treatment, only half of all HIV-positive children in the world currently have access to the drugs they need to survive.
EGPAF wishes to continue its work with Congress to strengthen and sustain the PEPFAR program and advance the global fight against HIV / AIDS.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
EGPAF is the world leader in the fight against HIV / AIDS in children and has provided more than 27 million pregnant women with services to prevent the transmission of HIV to their babies. Founded in 1988, EGPAF now supports activities in 19 countries and more than 5,000 sites for the implementation of prevention, care and treatment services. advance innovative research; and lead global advocacy activities that bring dramatic change to the lives of millions of women, children and families around the world. For more information, visit www.pedaids.org.
Meghan Quinn Elizabeth Glaser Foundation on Pediatric AIDS 202-448-8456 [email protected] Eliza Dryer Elizabeth Glaser Foundation on Pediatric AIDS 202-280-1657 [email protected]
Source link
