THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary (Lisbon, Portugal)
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:
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:
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. |
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