U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley (D-Dist. 5) and Richard Hanna (R-NY) sent a letter, also signed by 21 other colleagues, on Tuesday to Ambassador Deborah Birx at the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, urging her to continue prioritizing evidence-based HIV prevention to help control the AIDS epidemic.
“As PEPFAR (United States President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief) focuses more on controlling the AIDS epidemic and delivering on the promise of an AIDS-free generation, preventing transmission is increasingly important,” Quigley said. “This dream can become a reality if PEPFAR takes advantage of existing family-planning infrastructure, prevents mother-to-child transmission and strengthens health systems to ensure that their progress is sustainable.”
Hanna said he is happy the U.S. is taking a lead role globally to prevent the spread of AIDS/HIV.
“Together, we can work to create an AIDS-free generation, and it is a dream I hope we can one day realize," Hanna said.
This letter comes in advance of a pending announcement from PEPFAR on its new goals for preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.