If Congress doesn't reauthorize PEPFAR, children's lives will be at risk from HIV
November 20, 2023
by Rev. Gabriel Salguero
Twenty-one years ago this summer, President George W. Bush stood in the White House Rose Garden to make an announcement that was nothing short of visionary at the time: to save the lives of millions of children around the world, his administration would put $500 million toward preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
At the time, many countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, were being ravaged by HIV. As President Bush pointed out, the disease had already killed 20 million people and was poised to take many millions more. He noted that globally, close to 2,000 babies were being infected with HIV every day - either during pregnancy, birth or through breast feeding. This tragedy could not be allowed to continue, at least not on America’s watch. And it didn’t. President Bush would go on to launch the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, otherwise known as PEPFAR, the largest commitment by any nation to address a single disease in history. Since its creation, it has saved 25 million lives, rates of mother-to-child transmission have plummeted and 5.5 million babies have been born HIV free who otherwise would have been infected. Some countries have even eliminated mother-to-child transmission altogether.
The success of PEPFAR is nothing short of breath-taking, but the program needs to be reauthorized by Congress. If our lawmakers don’t act soon, children’s lives could be at risk.