U.S. Secretary of State Powell Says Devastation of AIDS Could Undo Progress in Developing Countries

Secretary of State Colin Powell said the global campaign against AIDS is just as important to the United States as the war with Iraq or any other aspect of US foreign policy.

"I can envision a day in this country when every man is free of tyranny and poverty," Powell told the Global Business Coalitions on HIV/AIDS at a Kennedy Center banquet Wednesday. "This is a century of great potential promise, yet these promising trends that the United States and other democratic nations have supported can be reversed if AIDS is left to rage across the globe. President Bush has made the global effort to eradicate AIDS one of his highest foreign policy priorities," Powell said.

Powell praised the work of the companies involved in the Global Business Coalition for their efforts to educate those in their workforce about AIDS and to help their communities combat the disease.

The group also heard from Sens. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.), who have been leaders in Congress' efforts to increase investment in the fight against AIDS. Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni told the group about his efforts to fight AIDS through frank communication and efforts to keep his economy healthy. He told the business leaders that if they support his economy and keep his citizens working they are helping fight AIDS in his country because people who are working are less likely to get the disease than those who are idle.

Powell said of the challenge to combat AIDS, "Governments can't meet that challenge alone. It has to be done in partnership with businesses, faith-based institutions and other organizations."

Back to other CDC news for June 12, 2003

Previous Updates