PEPFAR 2013 Stewardship and Oversight Act Passes Congress and Confirms U.S. Government’s Commitment to an AIDS-free Future

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Washington, DC (PRWEB) November 19, 2013

"The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) applauds the U.S. Congress for passing the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Stewardship and Oversight Act of 2013.

Ten years into the PEPFAR program, we are at a critical time in the global AIDS response. Passage of this legislation not only reaffirms the U.S. government’s leadership in the fight against the AIDS pandemic, it reinforces a decade of programmatic success and gives renewed urgency to improving HIV and AIDS outcomes in countries hardest hit by this disease.

The bi-partisan legislation refines program oversight and accountability provisions and extends recently expired authorities related to funding allocations and inspector general activity. The legislation also continues the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (Global Fund)’s 33 percent leveraging provision (for every $1 the United States gives, other countries will give $2) which is considered essential to securing new international commitments to fight global diseases at the upcoming pledging conference.

The value of such visible, bi-partisan support for PEPFAR cannot be overstated. While we have seen great progress in recent years, more work still needs to be done. Each day more than 700 babies are born HIV-positive and without treatment 80 percent of these children will die before their fifth birthday. This legislation ensures that PEFPAR will provide the strong and steady leadership needed to change the course of this epidemic once and for all. ”

About the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF)

EGPAF is a global leader in the fight against pediatric HIV/AIDS, and has reached more than 17 million women with services to prevent transmission of HIV to their babies. It currently supports more than 6,800 sites in 15 countries to implement prevention, care, and treatment services; to further advance innovative research; and to execute global advocacy activities that bring dramatic change to the lives of millions of women, children, and families worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.pedaids.org.

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