Washington, DC — 1. On behalf of the CFA, a Washington, DC advocacy organization, we thank the United Nations system, governments of industrialized and developing nations, foundations, the civil society and other stakeholders that contributed immeasurably to the remarkable progress made so far in the quest to implement a global response to the gravest public health and development challenge of our time - the HIV/AIDS pandemic, with Sub-Saharan Africa as its epicenter.
2. We are encouraged that within a short period of time, more than $1.4 billion dollars in pledges and contributions have been made to the United Nations-brokered Global AIDS and Health Trust Fund. Although current contributions are significantly less than $7-10 billion dollars needed every year to combat the pandemic, we believe that this target is attainable as more partners, especially the foundations and the organized private sector, identify their niche in the global effort to stop AIDS, and as the operations of the Trust Fund becomes clearer. We expect the G-8 nations to significantly raise their contributions as well.
3. As an organization that has been promoting the AIDS Marshall Plan for Africa since 1999, we believe that significant relief is attainable. To implement a sustainable AIDS relief program for Africa, we believe that the industrialized nations, multilateral agencies, and Africa governments in a true partnership, have critical roles to play. We urge the industrialized nations to implement a long-term financial and technical response to AIDS relief efforts in Africa.
4. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are crucial entities in AIDS relief for Africa. We believe that the World Bank and the IMF should continue ongoing efforts to reduce the crushing debt burdens of poor nations, especially those laboring under the AIDS pandemic.
5. African nations have a major responsibility in the international AIDS relief efforts. In addition to the design and implementation of indigenous anti-AIDS strategies such as research, training, and prevention in each country, African nations should work closely with G-8 nations, multilateral agencies and the civil society to lay the foundation for long term macroeconomic and political stability in Africa through investments in primary health care and education; to feed its people through long term emphasis on agriculture; to create greater opportunities for trade and investments as a gateway out of poverty; to improve basic infrastructure, especially in rural areas where larger proportions of Africans live; to provide enabling conditions for creative private entrepreneurs to prosper; and, to encourage the participation of non government organizations and institutions at all levels of governance. We believe that stable democratic traditions, the rule of law, and sound macroeconomic policies anchored on fair and just regulatory mechanism will not only spur local creative energies but also attract long-term foreign investors to Africa.
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6. The CFA reaffirms its belief that AIDS relief for Africa should focus simultaneously on two strategies: prevention of new infections and the treatment of those already infected. The CFA will continue to advocate for deep and sustained AIDS relief for Africans at risk of contracting the virus or living with HIV/AIDS.
7. We commend the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan for his heroic efforts in galvanizing the international community to respond in a dramatic fashion to a pandemic that sadly has claimed 22 million lives and currently infects more than 36 million individuals. We are confident that Mr. Annan will continue to provide leadership as the AIDS and Health Trust Fund becomes operational, and the international response against AIDS gets underway.
Honorable Ronald Dellums is the Chairman of the Constituency for Africa and served as a member of the U.S. Congress for 27 years. Honorable Jack Kemp is the Vice-Chairman of the Constituency for Africa, and a former candidate for the Vice Presidency of the United States. Dr. Chinua Akukwe is a member of the Board of Directors of the Constituency for Africa and former Vice Chairman of the National Council for International Health (now the Global Health Council). Melvin Foote is the President/CEO of the Constituency for Africa.
