Elton John calls on American and British officials to ramp up commitment to global fight against AIDS
Founder of the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF), Sir Elton John, has called upon the governments of the US and the UK to increase their efforts and commitments towards the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in a recent letter to the US Congressional leadership and in an Op-Ed in the UK paper, The Guardian.
Public domain photo/ ChristianHeldt via Wikimedia commons
In the letter to the US Congress, John expressed his gratitude toward for what the US government has done in the AIDS battle worldwide saying, ” Your efforts have not only changed the course of the epidemic but the course of history.”
John writes, “In 2002, I urged the US Senate in testimony to act boldly to bring lifesaving AIDS medicine to the millions in need in Africa and around the world. I was overjoyed when President Bush proposed such a plan in his 2003 State of the Union Address and when, in less than 6 months, the Congress passed the most far reaching global heath legislation ever considered – with huge bipartisan majorities in both the House and the Senate. It was neither a Democratic or Republican effort, it was a gift from the American people to individuals and families they did not know and could not see who were in desperate need of help and hope. It was a great day for America, and for us all.”
“In 2003, only 50,000 people in Africa had access to AIDS medicines. Today, more than 100 times that number are on treatment, living healthier lives and caring for their children who would have been orphans.”
Elton John is asking to US government to continue its efforts towards the fight against AIDS–” I respectfully urge the US Congress to appropriate $1.65 billion for the Global Fund in FY14 as you did in FY13, and to restore the vitally important President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) bilateral program to its FY12 level. These dollars are quite literally translated into lives saved, infections prevented, productive work years increased, children raised and educated, economies improved, and strife and discord diminished.”
Sir Elton also made a plea to the UK government recently asking them to double their contribution, “The UK has always been a leader on development – a show of commitment from the UK will pull others along too. Every £100 the UK gives to the Global Fund now unlocks an extra £50 from the US. President Obama has asked the US congress to give $1.65bn to the Global Fund next year, with a total of $5bn over the next three years. The US is the biggest donor to the Global Fund, and has a rule saying it will never provide more than a third of the funds. That big ambition sets a clear challenge to other governments, foundations and companies.
“The UK can make sure the Global Fund has enough money to turn the tide of history. Now is the moment to put serious money behind that hope: doubling its last contribution, putting in £1bn over the next 3 years, will boost the Global Fund’s ability to achieve its goals and persuade others to do the right thing too. By capitalising on a historic opportunity now, Aids won’t need to be on the table when the UK chairs the G8 in 2021.”
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