Washington, DC — “Science has given us powerful new tools in the war against HIV and AIDS. Not only can medicine treat people living with HIV and AIDS, allowing them to live long and productive lives, but recent studies have proven that utilizing the same drugs for prevention purposes could reduce HIV transmissions by as much as 96 percent. Treatment and prevention are not two distinct components in the struggle against HIV, but complement each other. Treatment is prevention.
“Science has given us the tools, but now it’s our responsibility to work with our partners, both in government and the private sector to find a path forward and bring this epidemic to an end. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the National HIV/AIDS Strategy both outline ways to increase access to care, reduce infections and mitigate health disparities, but the nation’s dismal fiscal climate threatens to derail this progress. But as Secretary Clinton made clear today, the stakes are too high and the promise too great to yield now.
“While providing access to treatment is expensive, these costs are more than outweighed by both the benefits to the individual’s health and the reduction of new infections. The Secretary made clear in her remarks today, that linking people with HIV to treatment keeps them healthier for longer, allowing them to positively contribute to society and the economy. It also prevents more costly interventions down the line.
“NMAC applauds the Obama administration and Secretary Clinton for setting such an ambitious goal and will stand with them in making it a reality. For 30 years, the world has been ravaged by the AIDS epidemic, but for the first time in three decades, we have the tools to put a stop to it. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to see that through.”
For Immediate Release: November 8, 2011
Contact: Kyle Murphy, (202) 483-6622 ext. 333
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