Millions of Lives are at Stake, Humanitarian Group Warns

Congress must move with urgency to reach a bipartisan agreement to reauthorize the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and ensure the uninterrupted availability of treatment, care and prevention services relied upon by millions of people in hard-hit nations.

"Millions of children, women and men depend on the life-saving interventions provided by PEPFAR every day," said Craig Jaggers, World Vision's health policy advisor. "Congress now can show unified support for these individuals by working together to continue U.S. leadership in the fight against HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria."

"Quick action is needed to reauthorize PEPFAR with an increase in U.S. assistance, continued protection of orphans and vulnerable children, and safeguarding behavior change programs for young people," Jaggers said.

World Vision, an international Christian humanitarian agency, has been addressing the impact of AIDS for nearly two decades, starting with orphaned children in Rakai, Uganda. Today, the organization is fighting the spread and impact of AIDS in more than 60 nations—including PEPFAR-funded work in 14 countries, in partnership with other groups.

More than 15 million children worldwide have lost one or both parents to AIDS and related illnesses, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. World Vision's work focuses on assisting children and families made vulnerable by the pandemic. Addressing the impact of AIDS and other widespread diseases such as malaria is a significant aspect of development programs in African nations so that gains in agricultural development, education and other areas are not undone. The aim of these long-term programs is to help impoverished communities achieve self-sufficiency.

"PEPFAR has been a remarkably successful program that has established the U.S. as a leader in combating HIV and AIDS and helped save millions of lives," Jaggers said. "In reauthorizing the funding, Congress has the opportunity to make a very good initiative even better by expanding its reach. Strengthening PEPFAR will require an expansion of U.S. funding beyond six billion dollars a year, a set-aside of ten percent for all orphans and vulnerable children, and continued attention to behavior change, including a directive that supports the valuable contribution of abstinence and faithfulness promotion.

"The time is now for a comprehensive, bi-partisan bill, and it must be passed quickly—the future of millions of men, women and children depends on it," Jaggers said.

For more information, contact Geraldine Ryerson-Cruz at +1.202.572.6302 or gryerson@worldvision.org

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit www.worldvision.org