Download US Government Memo to Organizations in Uganda ordering them to halt treatment expansion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 13th, 2010

Contacts: Jennifer Flynn, Health GAP, 917-517-5202, jflynn@healthgap.org

Antonio Davis, ACT UP Philadelphia: 215-715-8653

Diana Scholl, Housing Works, 917-402-2576, d.scholl@housingworks.org

GLOBAL AIDS PROGRAMS FAILING BECAUSE OBAMA BROKE HIS PROMISE

Hundreds of angry AIDS activists protest Obama fundraiser, demand he keep his promise to fund global AIDS programs

NEW YORK - On Thursday, May 13, five hundred activists challenged President Obama to keep his promise of increasing funding to fight global AIDS. They came from across the mid-Atlantic by bus, subway, car, and foot to protest outside the St. Regis Hotel in New York City, where Obama attended a $15-50,000 a plate fundraiser. “While they are inside sipping champagne and caviar, Obama’s broken promises for global AIDS funding mean people will die because they cannot afford a ‘cocktail’ of HIV/AIDS medication,” said ACT UP Philadelphia member Henry Bennett. “Obama gave them hope, then he took it away.”

On the campaign trail, President Obama pledged "to provide at least $50 billion by 2013 for the global fight against HIV/AIDS,” and to “at least double the number of HIV-positive people on treatment" (Barack Obama, "Fighting HIV/AIDS Worldwide"). The reality is that, since taking office, President Obama's commitments to fighting AIDS have not even kept pace with inflation, let alone increased to the level he promised. A flat-funded budget means that people who were tested under US-sponsored programs and promised treatment when they got sick are now being turned away. Doctors in Uganda are being instructed to enroll no new patients in treatment, and face choices between giving their dwindling supplies to young mothers or children. This is happening at a time when new research shows that access to AIDS treatment is associated with a 92% reduction in rates of new HIV infection.

"Obama's lack of commitment to fight AIDS globally is exemplified by the administration's inaction in Haiti--the U.S. has not yet designated any supplemental money to rebuild Haiti's network of AIDS services that were wiped out in the January 12 earthquake. Tens of thousands of Haitians could die unnecessarily if we don't act quickly,"according to Christine Campbell, VP for National Advocacy and Organizing at Housing Works.

World renowned global AIDS leaders such as Zackie Achmat, from the Treatment Action Campaign, Wan Yan Hai, the exiled AIDS doctor and activist from China, and ACT UP founder Larry Kramer spoke at the rally. The protestors carried signs reading, “Obama to People with AIDS: Wait to Die… we can’t help you.” and “People with AIDS to Obama: You Lied to Us.” Donors arriving to the fundraiser were treated to street theater performance. Doctors had their hands tied, only able to provide their patients with body bags reading “Killed by Obama’s Broken Promises.” “Is this money that they’re raising tonight just going to elect more Democrats who won’t keep their promises?” wondered ACT UP Philadelphia member Cliff Williams.

A dozen activists risked arrest, attempting to enter the fundraiser and claim the medicine that millions were promised. They were turned away at the door, just as thousands of people who were promised medication are turned away from clinics in poor countries every month.

Activists pointed out that while the Obama administration has used the recession as an excuse to cut funding, many funding options exist, such as a financial transaction tax or a currency transaction levy, which raise billions of dollars through tiny taxes on financial speculations.

“President Obama promised my friends and family in Southern Africa, and millions of people worldwide, an opportunity to live. He lied to us. But he can reverse course, and fund global AIDS programs like he promised,” said Tembeni Fazo of the African Services Committee.

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The action was sponsored by ACT UP Philadelphia, ACT UP/NY, Africa Action, African Services Committee, American Medical Student Association, Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project, Health GAP, Housing Works, MCCNY Charities, MCC Global Justice Ministries, NYC AIDS Housing Network (NYCAHN), Philadelphia Global AIDS Watchdogs, Proyecto Sol Filadelphia, and VOCAL-NY Users’ Union.