THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of
the Press Secretary
(Lisbon, Portugal)
| For
Immediate Release |
May 31,
2000 |
Fact Sheet
The U.S. - EU Summit: Joint
Efforts on HIV/AIDS, Malaria,
Tuberculosis and Other Infectious Diseases
The U.S. and the EU today announced a joint response to the
critical global infectious disease threats of HIV/AIDS, malaria and
tuberculosis (TB), especially as they impact Africa.
Infectious
diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, causing nearly half of all
deaths among people under age 45. The developing world, especially Africa,
bears an enormous burden from these diseases, which not only destroy lives, but
also perpetuate the cycle of sickness and poverty.. HIV/AIDS, malaria, and TB,
together killing over 5 million people worldwide each year, are threatening
recent gains in economic growth, education and life expectancy.
In
Africa where HIV/AIDS is now the leading cause of death, the disease claimed
2.3 million lives last year alone - more than ten times the number who died in
armed conflict. TB and malaria claim millions more, with malaria causing one in
five childhood deaths in Africa.
U.S.-EU Joint Response on HIV/AIDS,
Malaria and TB
The U.S. and EU today agreed to:
- Seek increased government and private sector resources
dedicated to combating HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria;
- Support an increase in World Bank and regional development
bank resources devoted to health care system development;
- Encourage Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) to use funds
made available under the Cologne Debt Relief Initiative to build health
systems, combat AIDS and fight other diseases;
- Develop new financial investment incentives and
public/private partnerships to make drugs and vaccines more available and
affordable following the models of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and
Immunization and the proposal for a tax incentive to companies who develop new
vaccines for AIDS, malaria and TB;
- Accelerate disease information and education campaigns in
cooperation with political leaders in Africa;
- Increase diplomatic engagement with national leaders to
intensify joint action and encourage attention at the highest levels in the
battle against HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB; and
- Encourage the G-8 nations to address these issues as a
priority at the upcoming summit in Okinawa.
U.S. Initiatives
Today's announcement builds on the
Administration's aggressive response to these global disease challenges. In his
State of the Union address, President Clinton announced a significant
multi-part proposal to accelerate the development of malaria, TB and AIDS
vaccines - vaccines for which there is huge need, but little market incentive
for industry to develop. This included:
- $50 million to the Global Alliance for Vaccines and
Immunization to purchase existing state-of-the-art vaccines for developing
countries;
- a sharp increases in NIH vaccine research;
- a $1 billion tax credit for sales of vaccines for malaria, TB
and AIDS when they are developed; and
- a call to the World Bank to dedicate an additional $400-900
million in concessionary loans for health; and
- a campaign to mobilize the EU, G-8, and other countries to
increase funding and provide leadership on these issues.
President Clinton is also asking Congress for $325 million
to fight international AIDS - more than doubling the nation's commitment in two
years. Investment in AIDS research to find a cure exceeds $1.8 billion this
year, including over $200 million to find a vaccine - the most effective
long-term solution for Africa.
This year, the Administration has
committed over $70 million for TB prevention, control and research, and over
$100 million for malaria.
On January 10, Vice President Gore opened a
first-ever meeting of the UN Security Council on a heath issue - HIV/AIDS as an
international security threat. |
