Remembering What's Possible

Guest blog by Rachel Wilson, Senior Director of Advocacy and Public Policy at PATH

This year, I commemorated World AIDS Day at ONE and (RED)’s event in Washington, DC, where I listened to sitting and past presidents, members of Congress, corporate leaders, health workers from other countries, activists and even a few rockstars. At a time when every government cent is under scrutiny, I was reminded of just how far we have come in the fight against AIDS and many other diseases that disproportionately affect the developing world. I left the event feeling energized by the significant progress we have made and the leadership that has been shown by the US in addressing so many global health problems.

It wasn’t until I returned to my office and saw an email from a dear friend, who had chosen to stop taking the medication that is no longer protecting him against an ever-growing list of AIDS-related complications, that I was brought crashing back to reality. This juxtaposition between a community’s accomplishment and personal tragedy gave me pause. To be sure, we are winning the war against AIDS; but we also have a long way to go before we can declare victory.

The United States deserves a lion’s share of the credit for its leadership in the AIDS fight. My country, as Bono — Irish rock legend and cofounder of ONE — so articulately explained in a recent New York Times op-ed, has led. Really led. In just the last year alone, the US government, in partnership with nongovernmental organizations like PATH, has helped support:

Lifesaving antiretroviral treatment for 3.9 million people.

HIV testing and counseling for more than 9.8 million pregnant women.

Care for nearly 13 million people, including more than 4.1 million orphans and vulnerable children.

In the midst of the current economic crisis, when morale is low, it is natural to focus on what our government is not doing. However, when it comes to issues of HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other global health issues, our leaders have really demonstrated our nation’s potential to positively impact many of the world’s gravest health problems.

The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, which was started under President George W. Bush, has been pivotal in turning the tide against this disease. Furthermore, in an historic announcement last week, President Obama pledged to help 6 million people get treatment by 2013, 2 million more than the original goal. To have our 43rd and 44th presidents so invested in this vital issue makes me proud to be an American. It shows me that, when they want to, our two political parties can achieve some pretty remarkable feats in global health. It is our job as taxpayers to remind them of this, especially now as they consider cutting foreign assistance, a move that would only worsen morale at home, not to mention adversely impact the lives of millions around the world.

I refuse to believe that the era of bipartisanship is dead. In fact, bipartisanship was on full display at the ONE and (RED)’s event. Representative Barbara Lee, D-Calif., one of Congress’ most devoted champions on the HIV/AIDS issue, was joined on stage by freshman Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and — wait for it — they both agreed with each other! In one of my favorite quotes of the morning, Senator Rubio remarked that, as a country, we “are not just blessed so we can have; we’re blessed so we can give.” I couldn’t agree more.

It is through events like this and other World AIDS Day events that we are able to tangibly see the impact of foreign assistance and the leadership role the US has played in getting that assistance to those who need it. If the American public and policymakers better understood what the US has accomplished with their investments, I truly believe they would be reinvigorated and feel a sense of responsibility to care for the world’s poor. We are a nation of generous people, and this generosity, by and large, transcends our differences in culture, race, religion, and politics. To quote the timeless adage, which was echoed throughout the day, “To whom much is given, much is required.”

It is time, as our President so eloquently stated, to “put humanity before politics…and to fight for all the people who didn’t live to see [our success].” I promise to continue fighting for my friend and for all of the men, women, and children who were taken far too early from this world by this and other diseases. I hope you will join me.

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