NEWS FROM
LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF
December 1, 2005
For more information contact Emily Sollie at esollie@lwr.org or 410-230-2802.
In this news release:
- Lutheran World Relief Observes World Aids Day
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LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF OBSERVES WORLD AIDS DAY
Baltimore, December 1, 2005 — Every year on December 1, World AIDS day is observed in nations around the globe. Lutheran World Relief marks the occasion this year with a call to the U.S. government to increase its funding to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, a partnership between governments, civil society, the private sector and affected communities to finance innovative health initiatives worldwide.
The Global Fund, set up to increase resources to fight three of the world’s most devastating diseases, requested $7.1 billion at a donor conference in London in September to cover the anticipated needs of the next two years -- and received only $3.5 billion.
The U.S. holds 1/3 of the world’s wealth, and made a promise to supply 1/3 of the funding for the Global Fund – for this year, that amount would be $700 million. But that promise has not been kept, and current funding plans fall short by $150 million. We urge Congress to keep the promise and provide the full $700 million in funding.
Worldwide, approximately 42 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. Last year, AIDS killed 3 million people and infected 5 million more. Six to nine million people in the developing world need AIDS treatment, yet only a small fraction have access to life-extending anti-retroviral drugs that will enable them to lead healthy and productive lives. Increasing access to these medications will save lives.
In addition to advocating for more funding for essential medications, LWR works in the developing world to slow the spread of this devastating disease. Our programs include educating people about how HIV is spread and how they can protect themselves; increasing detection and treatment by establishing voluntary testing centers; training people to provide home-based care for people living with HIV/AIDS; and providing AIDS orphans and their caretakers with skills and resources to support themselves.
Take Jennifer, for example. A mother of three in Kenya, her husband died of AIDS and her children had to drop out of school because she no longer could afford their school fees. In 2003, she learned that she, too, was HIV-positive, and she received medical care and social support through an LWR-supported program. Last year, she received agricultural training from LWR’s local partner and learned how to increase the output of her small farm.
“My harvest has increased from one bag of maize to more than six bags,” she said. “Now I have enough maize to feed my children and extra to exchange for vegetables. Today my children are in school and I am a happy mother knowing I’m taking better care of them.”
“HIV/AIDS is a problem that affects us all,” said LWR president Kathryn Wolford. “Today we take a moment to reflect on its impact around the world. But LWR’s work to help people living with the disease, and to help prevent its spread, continues every day of the year. Whether through advocacy at home to increase AIDS funding, or through supporting programs abroad to help people like Jennifer, each one of us can do something about HIV/AIDS.”
You can help. For more information about advocating for HIV/AIDS funding, see http://www.lwr.org/advocacy/africa/aids.asp.
Or call 1-800-LWR-LWR-2 or mail a donation to:
Lutheran World Relief
HIV/AIDS
P.O. Box 17061
Baltimore, MD 21298-9832
WHO IS LWR? Lutheran World Relief, an international nonprofit organization, works to end poverty and injustice by empowering some of the world's most impoverished communities to help themselves. With partners in 35 countries, LWR seeks to promote sustainable development with justice and dignity by helping communities bring about change for healthy, safe and secure lives; engage in Fair Trade; promote peace and reconciliation; and respond to emergencies. LWR is headquartered in Baltimore, Md. and has worked in international development and relief since 1945.
Lutheran World Relief is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS), individuals and parish groups in international relief, development, advocacy and social responsibility.
