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MCC action alert

Tell President Obama to fully fund the AIDS Global Response and avoid catastrophe

Call-In November 19th - 23th, 2009

November 19, 2009

Issue: The United States' global HIV/AIDS PEPFAR health programs and services have scored tremendous accomplishments in recent years. Bipartisan support in the Congress and White House leadership have led to tangible gains in saving lives in many impoverished countries across the globe.

Background: Sadly, President Obama is flat funding PEPFAR and the Global Fund. This will reduce funding for the global AIDS response. Many people living with HIV world-wide will be denied life-saving antiretroviral therapy, succumbing to AIDS, dying prematurely, increasing resistance to existing antiretroviral drugs, and leaving more orphans.

Faith reflection: We are called, as people of faith and as a country, to console those who suffer, provide care for those on the margins and give solace and hope to the outcasts. Guided by our faith, we seek to walk with the people most affected and call on leaders at all levels to intensify efforts to care for the sick, provide treatment and increase prevention of HIV/AIDS.

Action: We must act quickly to save lives. Please call the White House now before the President announces his Global Health Initiative.

Talking points:

  • The facts on the ground suggest flat funding the budget in Nigeria will result in needless and premature death of thousands of people living with HIV who will not receive antiretroviral therapy when they become medically eligible this year. This is despite the fact that they are already enrolled in the care and support services of this program. The 34 local partners of one implementing partner of PEPFAR-supported antiretroviral therapy in Nigeria has the ability to scale-up from 30,000 on ARVs to more than 40,000 in the next year. However, due to a lack of drugs, less than half that many will receive the life-saving therapeutic regimen. The lack of drugs will also have a disastrous affect on counseling and testing programs because, if found positive, there is no therapy in the pipeline for them due to flat funding or decreased budgets.
  • Tell President Obama we will not accept a Global Health Initiative that does not fully preserve the provisions of Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008 by providing full funding for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the US fair-share contribution to the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria.
  • Tell President Obama we stand ready to work with him to ensure HIV/AIDS funding has maximum support. The commitment we seek is one that fully embraces all God's children who are infected and affected with the scourge of disease and poverty and we count on his leadership to act accordingly.

Act now!

The White House Switchboard number is 202-456-1414. Make your voice heard!

Thank you for standing up for the voiceless millions of people around the world.