US Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Eric Goosby visits Uganda

US Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Eric Goosby visits Uganda

Ambassador Eric Goosby, the Global AIDS Coordinator for the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), visited Uganda September 26-30, 2009, to describe his vision for PEPFAR and the next five years of the program, including strengthening the partnership between the Government of Uganda and PEPFAR leadership. 

Ambassador Goosby serves as the United States Global AIDS Coordinator, leading all U.S. Government international HIV/AIDS efforts. In this role, he oversees implementation of PEPFAR, as well as U.S. Government engagement with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

During his visit, Ambassador Goosby met with H.E. President Museveni, Ministry of Health officials, several members of Parliament and the Uganda AIDS Commission, over 90 PEPFAR implementing partners, health academics, and AIDS development partners to present his vision and discuss the challenges and opportunities of implementing PEPFAR in Uganda. 

The Ambassador toured several PEPFAR-supported initiatives based in Kampala, including the Infectious Disease Institute, TASO, the Baylor - Pediatric Infectious Diseases Clinic, and Meeting Point.

Since assuming his role as U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator in June this year, Ambassador Goosby visited Angola, South Africa and Zimbabwe.  Ambassador Goosby says that the fight against global AIDS remains a central theme in President Obama’s foreign policy and global health agenda.

“President Obama and Secretary Clinton recognize the value of our partnerships with many nations on HIV and AIDS, and I look forward to discussing with the government and our partners the opportunities before us in Uganda.”

Through PEPFAR, the United States is the leading provider of HIV and AIDS assistance to Uganda. Between 2004 and 2008, the U.S. Government provided $1.2 billion to Uganda to support comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and care programs.  In 2009, the U.S. is investing an additional $285 million. PEPFAR-Uganda supports anti-retroviral treatment for 120,000 out of 190,000 patients on treatment nationally, and supports the delivery system that supplies those on anti-retroviral therapy.

PEPFAR was launched in 2003 to combat global HIV/AIDS, and is the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease in history.  Working in partnership with host nations worldwide, by 2013 PEPFAR plans to support treatment for at least three million people, prevention of 12 million new infections, and care for 12 million people, including five million orphans and vulnerable children.