Governor Mitt Romney On World AIDS Day

"On World AIDS Day, we are reminded of the importance of America's commitment to fighting one of mankind's most deadly infectious diseases. Around the world, over 33 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. In 2007 alone, 2.5 million people became infected with HIV and another 2.1 million died from AIDS. To strengthen our fight against HIV/AIDS and bring hope to those afflicted with this disease, we need strong executive leadership that can build on President Bush's groundbreaking efforts. "As President, I will mobilize our civilian instruments of power to address HIV/AIDS, poverty and other challenges across Africa by empowering a single U.S. official with the responsibility and authority to lead all of America's civilian efforts in the region. I will fundamentally transform our international aid efforts so that more of our assistance goes to those suffering rather than bureaucracy. Today, only one-third of all foreign aid gets to the people it was intended to help. That must change. "As devastating as HIV/AIDS has been around the world, we must not forget that over a million Americans are living with the disease here at home. We should do all we can to ensure that America continues to lead the world in cutting-edge research and development into new medicines. I believe in supporting policies that foster innovation and get every American access to affordable, quality health insurance. I also believe that government should work in partnership with our nation's pharmaceutical researchers and manufacturers to advance the HIV/AIDS research agenda and move us toward a cure."

Richardson promises to implement comprehensive national strategy and fight epidemic worldwide

Richardson Unveils HIV/AIDS Policy on World AIDS Day DES MOINES, IA-- New Mexico Governor and Democratic Presidential candidate Bill Richardson today unveiled his policy on HIV/AIDS. As President, Richardson is committed to tackling this epidemic, both in the United States and around the world. He will do so by focusing on evidence-based prevention, providing quality and affordable treatment, and renewing our commitment to research. "The United States must lead the world in dealing with the HIV/AIDS epidemic," Richardson said. "On the home front, it is shameful that we do not have a comprehensive national strategy to address the HIV/AIDS crisis. 1.2 million Americans are living with HIV/AIDS, including more than 400,000 who have full-blown AIDS. This must be addressed now. "To resolve the HIV/AIDS crisis in the developing world, we need a multi-faceted approach. First, we must fund prevention, treatment, and care worldwide. Second, we must reduce the number of people living with AIDS who die from a tuberculosis infection. Third, to allow impoverished nations to implement specific AIDS programs, I will urge the International Monetary Fund to cancel 100% of the debt that they owe. Most importantly, we must protect the rights of women and children to reduce the risk that they will become infected." Governor Richardson has received praise for his policy from experts in the field. "AIDS Action welcomes Governor Richardson's detailed and well thought-out platform on HIV/AIDS, including recognizing the need for a strong, accountable National AIDS Strategy and making its leader part of the Cabinet," said Rebecca Haag, Executive Director of AIDS Action. "There is simply no reason why we cannot significantly reduce the number of new HIV infections in this country and ensure access to care and treatment for all those infected. We are pleased that the Governor is using his political leadership to raise the awareness of all Americans on World AIDS Day." "Richardson's plan focuses not only on prevention and reducing the cost of treatment, but also on giving researchers like me the tools we need to put an end to this terrible disease," said Dr. Jerry Cade of Las Vegas, Nevada, an internationally renowned HIV/AIDS physician, researcher, and activist and a member of President Clinton's Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. "Given his depth of experience and his record of accomplishment, I believe that he can successfully implement this plan, which would save countless lives in America and around the world." Richardson also remembered the life of a prominent HIV/AIDS activist, Dr. Scott Hitt. "Today is World AIDS Day, and while we remember the millions of victims of this disease, we also should take the time to celebrate the life and work of one of the great champions in the fight against HIV/AIDS," Richardson said. "Dr. Scott Hitt will be laid to rest today in Los Angeles, California, taken at the young age of 49 not by AIDS, but by that other great challenge, cancer. The world will miss Scott’s leadership. I mourn his death and send my condolences to his family, friends, and partner Alex." Dr. Hitt served as the Chair of President Clinton's Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS and as National Chair of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund. He also founded the American Academy of HIV Medicine. Governor Richardson addressed Dr. Hitt’s advocacy organization, ANGLE, in June of this year. To read Governor Richardson’s HIV/AIDS policy, click here: http://www.richardsonforpresident.com/issues/aids.

For World AIDS Day, Huckabee Endorses ETHA

The suffering and loss of life caused by HIV/AIDS is a national and international tragedy. Here at home, more than a million of us have HIV or AIDS, with 40,000 new cases last year. The incidence of new infections has not declined in fifteen years. This disease is especially devastating to our minority communities, which account for two of every three new cases. While African-Americans are only 13% of our population, they are half of our AIDS cases. The rate of infection is ten times as high for African-Americans as for whites, and three times as high for Latinos. Ending this disparity must be one of our top goals. While we must continue our global leadership on HIV/AIDS, we must also take care of our own. My administration will be the first to have an overarching strategy for dealing with HIV and AIDS here in the United States, with a partnership between the public and private sectors that will provide necessary financing and a realistic path toward our goals. We must prevent new infections and provide more accessible care. We must transform the promise of a vaccine and a cure into reality. In some areas, such as reducing mother-to-child transmission and securing our blood supply, we have achieved dramatic success. But we have so much more to accomplish. In most states today, only those with AIDS are eligible for Medicaid. We must expand that coverage to those with HIV because early intervention will result in better management and longer life. We must continue to fund the Ryan White CARE Act, which provides much needed treatment and support services to low-income Americans, and make certain that the money goes to the communities and parts of the country where the disease has migrated. We must provide more funding for research, such as that done at our National Institutes of Health. I am proud that the United States has led the global battle against HIV/ AIDS. We have both a strategic interest as the world's only superpower and a moral obligation as the world's richest country to continue to do so until this scourge is a memory. The magnitude of the numbers is heartbreaking: the United Nations' report for 2007 shows more than 33 million people have HIV/AIDS, with 2.5 million newly infected and over 2 million deaths. At the end of each day, about 5,700 people have died from AIDS, and 6,800 are newly infected. Behind these statistics lies the individual story of a unique human being, stories of great suffering and sorrow, of children deprived of their nurturing mothers and their bread-winning fathers. There are almost 12 million AIDS orphans in Africa, many living in institutions or on the streets. It seems overwhelming, but there is also good news: antiretroviral drugs cost just 40 cents a day, and the number of people in Africa receiving them grew from just 1% to 28% between 2002 and 2006. We must do even better in the next four years. I support President Bush's proposal to double our initial commitment from $15 billion to $30 billion over the next five years for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). PEPFAR has already done an extraordinary amount of good, by providing drugs for over a million people and care for four-and-a-half million people, but it expires in 2008 and must be reauthorized. I support an increase in our commitment to the Global Fund. Through PEPFAR and the Global Fund, we can do our fair share to meet the Millennium Development Goals we affirmed in 2000, which include universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care. We must always be mindful that "For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required." Permalink: http://www.mikehuckabee.com/index.cfm?FuseAction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=778