Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise

World AIDS Day is an occasion for the community of nations and citizens all across the globe to join together and turn our thoughts to the more than 40 million people worldwide who are living with HIV/AIDS, over two million of whom are children. But our observance cannot end with remembrance. This is a day to rededicate ourselves to action. All who have the power to ease suffering and to save lives also have a moral responsibility to do so.

The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is "Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise." Nearly three years ago, President Bush made a promise to all who are afflicted with or affected by this disease. He pledged that America would do more to help and he launched a five-year, $15 billion effort -- the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief -- which represents the largest international initiative ever by one nation to combat a single disease.

Today, we are keeping President Bush’s historic promise. Under the President’s Emergency Plan, America is leading the fight against HIV/AIDS in 123 countries. The Emergency Plan includes both bilateral programs under American direction and support for multilateral efforts, such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.

We are focusing especially on the 15 hardest-hit nations in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean -- nations that together account for over half of the world’s infected people. In these nations, the Emergency Plan is helping us to meet our five-year strategic goal of preventing seven million new infections, treating two million individuals who are living with AIDS, and caring for ten million people who are afflicted with and affected by the disease, including orphaned children.

On this World AIDS Day, Americans should celebrate all the successes that we and our partners are achieving in the global fight against HIV/AIDS. But today, we must also remind ourselves how much hard work lies ahead. We will not defeat this disease in a month or a year. But if we sustain our commitment -- if we match our compassion with action -- we will one day bring hope to all who are living in the shadow of HIV/AIDS.

Thank you.

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