Week of Action & Rally in DC for Universal Access to Treatment Now!

A year and a half ago leaders of the world’s most powerful countries gathered at the G-8 summit and promised Universal Access to AIDS Treatment by 2010. Since then there has been little action toward committing the new resources and policies to reach that goal. Some progress is being made, but still only 1.6 million people have access to treatment—and we’re nowhere near on track to reach the 10 million we will need to put on treatment by 2010. Meanwhile, we’re losing ground on effective HIV-prevention programs!

With 40 million people infected world-wide, and 14,000 newly infected every day, HIV/AIDS is the worst epidemic in human history:

• Over 8000 people still die from AIDS every day
• More than 6 million people are in need of urgent treatment and 10 million will be by 2010
• Less than 5% of HIV positive children receive treatment

We demand Action TODAY from US government officials, G-8 and other world leaders on funding, healthcare workers, and trade policies that contribute to- rather than working against- reaching Universal Access by 2010 for those living with HIV/AIDS here in the US and around the world.

We demand:

● $8 billion over 5 years in new money to fund the training and retention of the African healthcare workers that will be needed to reach Universal Access by 2010.

● $2.6 billion in funding for the Ryan White CARE Act for treatment and care to people living with AIDS in the US, in BOTH rural and urban areas.

● Trade rules that promote access to AIDS medicines and an end to bilateral free trade agreements that put big pharmaceutical interests ahead of those living with HIV/AIDS.

● Full funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria—at least $700 million this year from the US.

Adequate health care workers and full funding for programs is essential to combat many growing threats, including TB in HIV-positive patients (TB is the largest killer of those with HIV/AIDS and is growing increasingly drug resistant). Trained healthcare workers are also an essential component to building effective interventions against the gender-based violence deeply linked to HIV--preventing many women from negotiating safe sex and keeping many from seeking testing, treatment, or care.

Millions of lives can be saved if the US government acts immediately. We call on President Bush and Members of Congress to meet these basic demands today to reach the global promises we’ve already made.

What you can do:

1) Week of Action at Home: During the week of World AIDS Day (Nov 27-Dec 1) take the message to your local member of Congress… deliver a giant letter, walk in to the local poltician's office and tell them that you will hold both them and the president responsible for keeping their promises and call on them to fund a new major healthcare worker initiative. To find out more email [email protected].

2) Come to Washington, DC: On the afternoon of DECEMBER 1st local activists will rally outside the White House to make our demands crystal clear and highlight the underlying realities that have contributed to the AIDS epidemic in Africa and here in our nation’s capital where the rate of new AIDS cases is 12 times the national average. Contact Sara Renn at SGAC () for more information.

ACT UP Austin

ACT UP NY

ACT UP Philadelphia

American Medical Student Association

Center for Health and Gender Equity

DC Fights Back!

Global AIDS Alliance

Global Justice

Health GAP

Housing Works

International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS (ICW)

Priority Africa Network (PAN)

RESULTS

Student Global AIDS Campaign

Universities Allied for Essential Medicine

Universities Coalition for Global Health