FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Peter Kronenberg, pkronenberg@napwa.org, 240.247.1025

The National Association of People With AIDS (NAPWA) warmly congratulates President Obama for declaring today that we can, should, and will end AIDS in the world and in America.

Mr. Obama’s remarks reflect a remarkable year of advances in treatment, prevention, and – crucially – treatment as prevention. We know now that we have the scientific tools to make new infections a thing of the past. Mr. Obama’s speech shows us there is political will to act on the science. The excitement, hope, and determination on the George Washington University stage were electric.

A serious campaign to end the epidemic will require public resources. HIV funding will have to grow to levels needed to reach all infected Americans, link them to care, and help them stay in care. That is a major political commitment, and we salute the President and supporters on both sides of the aisle for their courage in making it in this economic and political climate.

We recognize that government cannot end the epidemic by itself. HIV stigma and homophobia prevent too many Americans from getting tested for HIV and learning their status. Health care systems that underserve lower-income Americans and dysfunctional drug laws keep too many who know they are positive out of treatment. Those problems won’t be solved in Washington alone.

Ending stigma and homophobia and leveling the health care playing field for lower-income Americans and minorities of all kinds will demand the moral and political will of all Americans, not just our leaders in Washington. But the President’s speech today reminded us of Presidents Eisenhower’s, Kennedy’s, and Johnson’s leadership from the top to enlist America’s moral and political will in the fight to end segregation. Ending the HIV epidemic today is just as much a matter of justice as ending segregation was then. We salute the President and the distinguished guests who joined him at George Washington for saying, Yes, this is about justice, yes, we can do this, and yes, we will. We salute them for calling on America for its best.

About NAPWA
NAPWA is today and has been for 25 years the oldest, most trusted voice for saving and improving the lives of people impacted by HIV/AIDS.  Founded as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization in 1983, NAPWA advocates for the lives and dignity of all people living with HIV/AIDS, especially the 1.2 million Americans who live with it today. We want the epidemic to end, and we want life to be better for people with HIV until it does. NAPWA is based in Silver Spring, Maryland. More information is available at www.napwa.org.

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