AIDS Action Praises U.N., Gore in Fight on Global Epidemic

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Washington, DC -- AIDS Action today praised an historic meeting of the United Nations Security Council that included opening remarks from Vice President Gore announcing $100 million to help fortify the fight against the global epidemic. The Council was convened Monday to discuss the fight against AIDS in Africa.

"America has shown strong resolve to fight evil dictators in Europe and elsewhere. Now, we are showing that we can use the same resolve to fight an evil virus in Africa," said Claudia French, AIDS Action acting executive director. "Today, the world community has come together to fight one of the most serious crises of the new millennium."

AIDS Action, which has advocated for increased U.S. involvement in the war on AIDS in Africa, praised the Vice President's actions. The $100 million comes on top of an already historic $200 million for global HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment that was enacted in 1999.

"The AIDS epidemic has the potential to bring down entire nations in Africa," added French. "Today's actions prove the world recognizes that global AIDS is now one of our most important foreign policy imperatives."

AIDS Action was also pleased by a new $50 million initiative for vaccines, a portion of which will be used for the development of an AIDS vaccine. Indeed, a vaccine that could prevent HIV infection is considered the silver bullet in the war on AIDS.

There are 33 million people living with HIV in the world, almost 22 million of whom live in Africa. Equally disturbing, there are 16,000 new infections worldwide every day.

AIDS Action and our network of member organizations around the country will fight for Congressional approval of today's proposal.