President Bush today signed into law the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which provides funding for HIV treatment and prevention.
The newly reauthorized PEPFAR commits $48 billion to fighting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in some of the world’s hardest hit countries over the next five years. New language is also included which overturns an outdated U. S. travel immigration statutory ban on HIV-positive individuals.
Also new to PEPFAR are measures to provide HIV prevention services that target men who have sex with men (MSM). The language was put forth by a number of AIDS advocacy organizations, including AIDS Project Los Angeles (APLA).
“We can hope that with these new provisions, HIV in Africa will now be fought on every front,” said Craig E. Thompson, APLA’s executive director. “Current HIV prevention efforts are not reaching men who have sex with men, to the detriment of both men and women.”
For APLA’s press release, click here.
