AHF Lauds Obama's Appointment of Dr. Eric Goosby at PEPFAR
Apr 27, 2009 - WASHINGTON - AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) today lauded President Obama's choice of Dr. Eric Goosby as Global AIDS Coordinator for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the lifesaving US global AIDS program first spearheaded by President George W. Bush six years ago.
"We applaud President Obama's selection of Dr. Eric Goosby to head PEPFAR and believe Dr. Goosby is an excellent choice to lead PEPFAR. Dr. Goosby brings a wealth of experience to the job having worked in global AIDS for many, many years. His firsthand experience should serve him well in this key position in the global AIDS fight," said Michael Weinstein, President of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "However, it is crucial that President Obama ensures that Dr. Goosby has the capability and full support of the Administration in order to effectively lead this landmark lifesaving global AIDS program and that we do not squander the steady progress that PEPFAR has already made in the global fight against AIDS. Such support would include honoring Mr. Obama's 2008 campaign pledge of funding for the global AIDS program in the amount of at least $50 billion by 2013-a pledge that may have moved off the President's short list amidst growing global and economic crises."
PEPFAR was the result of President Bush's groundbreaking 2003 State of the Union pledge to bring two million HIV positive Africans and others into treatment and prevent seven million new HIV infections via a five-year, $15 billion US-funded program. It currently supports antiretroviral treatment for 1.4 million people worldwide.
About AHF
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) is the US' largest non-profit HIV/AIDS healthcare provider. AHF currently provides medical care and/or services to more than 80,000 individuals in 22 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia. Additional information is available at www.aidshealth.org
AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Media Contact
Ged Kenslea,
Communications Director, AHF
(323) 860-5225 work,
(323) 791-5526 mobile
gedk@aidshealth.org
or
Lori Yeghiayan,
Associate Director of Communications, AHF
(323) 860-5227 work,
(323) 377-4312 mobile
lori.yeghiayan@aidshealth.org
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