Remarks

AMBASSADOR JERRY P. LANIER
World AIDS Day Speech
AMERICAN CORNER, FORT PORTAL
DECEMBER 2, 2011

Mayor Edison Asaba Ruyonga,

District Chairman Rwabuhunga Richard,
Honorable dignitaries,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning, and welcome to the Fort Portal American Corner.

Today, it is my honor to be here with you to talk about the great progress Uganda has made towards the creation of an AIDS-free generation.  Today, thanks to the work or Ugandans and the generosity of the American people, almost a quarter of a million HIV-positive Ugandans have the medication they need to stay alive.  These people don't just lie in hospital beads; they walk among us, working, raising families, and contributing to our communities.  We should all be proud of this achievement. 

Although we have come a long way in the fight against HIV/AIDS, we must remember that this is still a global epidemic, and 34 million HIV positive people in the world need our continued attention and commitment to stay alive.  Yesterday was World AIDS Day, which was themed "Re-engaging leadership for effective HIV prevention."  I applaud this theme, since it is only through greater leadership that we can win the fight against HIV.  And so, in solidarity with Uganda, today we recommit ourselves to that fight, and our struggle to create an AIDS-free generation.

While we have saved countless lives in Uganda, the epidemic remains a national crisis.  1.2 million Ugandans are HIV-positive, including 150,000 children.  Over 1.2 million children have been orphaned by AIDS.  Last year, 64,000 Ugandans died from AIDS and 124,000 were infected with the virus. AIDS remains the number one cause of death for Ugandan women.  Over 540,000 Ugandans need antiretroviral drugs and about 290,000 receive them. While this is a vast improvement from a decade ago, we cannot afford to become complacent; only one in four Ugandans infected with HIV receives ARVs.

On November 8, 2011, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton challenged all of us to create an AIDS-free generation. "Combination prevention" will help us transform this dream of an AIDS-free generation into a reality.  Combination prevention focuses on eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission, on expanding safe medical male circumcision for HIV prevention, and on scaling up treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS.  This must be combined with providing condoms, counseling and testing, and other effective prevention interventions.

Achieving an AIDS-free generation will require re-engaged leadership at all levels.  Last week I addressed 65 MPs from the Uganda Women Parliamentarian's Association, challenging them to ensure that their government commits to providing the skilled health workers, hospitals and clinics, and healthcare systems to meet their constituents' needs.  You at the local level must do your part as well.  Speeches and declarations do not save lives; careful management and local commitment do.

Despite difficult economic times, the United States remains committed to a leadership role in the global fight against AIDS.  Nevertheless, the American people cannot - and should not - be the sole supporters of prevention, care, and treatment. The Government of Uganda must significantly increase its financial and administrative support for both HIV/AIDS and to general health care of its own citizens.

Today, we recognize how far we have come in turning the tide against HIV, while acknowledging the lengths we still must travel.  On World AIDS Day 2011, we stand united with Uganda.  With science as the roadmap and re-engaged Ugandan leadership at all levels, let us renew our combined efforts to reach our common goal of an AIDS-free generation.

Thank you.