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December 1 is World AIDS Day. People throughout the world view this day as an opportunity to remember those who lost their battle with this disease; to show compassion for those who are suffering today; and to renew their commitment to help others remain free of infection. Though the continuing tragedy of HIV/AIDS is taking its toll, there is a growing basis for hope. The successes achieved through the partnership between Mexico and the United States demonstrate the difference that action can make.
The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is “Keep the Promise,” and the United States is doing just this. In 2003, President George W. Bush announced his Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief – a five-year, $15 billion, multifaceted approach to combating the disease around the world. The President’s plan is the largest international health initiative directed at a single disease that any nation has ever undertaken.
The United States has kept its promise and is now working in partnership with 123 nations – including Mexico– to support sustainable, locally-driven responses to the pandemic. Fifteen nations in Africa, the Caribbean, and Asia that account for approximately one-half of the world’s infections receive intensified U.S. Government support.
In 2006, the U.S. contribution in its partnership with Mexico is expected to total $2 million dollars. With the strong backing of Congress and the American people, the United States now leads the world’s donor nations in its level of financial commitment to the fight.
The U.S. Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief supports Mexico’s national HIV/AIDS strategy and is part of a comprehensive and effective national response that can be sustained for the long term.
HIV/AIDS is an incredibly complex disease, and the Emergency Plan supports locally designed interventions. To help people protect themselves, the partnership between the United States and Mexico supports prevention programs designed to help the most vulnerable groups, through a strategy based on abstinence, faithfulness, and correct and consistent use of condoms.
The Emergency Plan also recognizes that stigma and discrimination represent an important barrier for effective prevention and treatment. The U.S.-Mexico partnership supported the establishment of a National Business Council on HIV/AIDS, the organization Consejo Nacional Empresarial sobre SIDA, a unique public-private partnership in the battle against stigma and discrimination in the workplace. Announced last year on World AIDS Day by Mexican Health Minister Julio Frenk, the Consejo Nacional Empresarial sobre SIDA now has 28 member companies with an estimated 134,000 employees, and continues to expand its membership.
AIDS does not respect borders. The successes of the partnership between Mexico and the United States in combating stigma and discrimination, promoting effective prevention strategies, and building sustainable responses provide a strong foundation for the future. The American people are proud to be partnering with Mexico, creating hope for a future free of HIV/AIDS.
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