PRESIDENT BUSH DISCUSSES HIV/AIDS INITIATIVES IN PHILADELPHIA

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 23, 2004

Remarks by the President on Compassion and HIV/AIDS
People for People
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
10:42 A.M. EDT

(excerpts)

Today, I announce a second round of funding in the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. More than $500 million will be soon on its way. Congress needs to release the money. These grants will provide more antiretroviral treatments and promote prevention efforts, care for children who lost their parents to AIDS -- there's a lot of orphans around the continent of Africa. You've got 14- and 15-year-old kids raising their brothers and sisters. So part of the effort is to provide love and hope for these brave young kids who have been handed an incredibly tough burden, an awesome burden.

We want to help build and equip hospitals and clinics. In other words, we want the infrastructure to be there. Part of the money goes to make sure there's an infrastructure. I mean, we really don't care here in America if it takes a bicycle or a moped to get antiretrovirals out of these big cities, but that's what we're going to do. And part of the challenge we face is to help poor countries have the capacity to absorb the drugs and compassion of America. That's one of our challenges.

I want to thank the Congress, again, and the taxpayer, for their generosity. This is a vital initiative. Let's make sure the resources keep coming on a timely basis.

Today, I'm also announcing that we're adding Vietnam to the emergency plan. In other words, we have 14 countries; we're adding a 15th country. Now, after a long analysis by our staff, we believe that Vietnam deserves this special help. We're putting a history of bitterness behind us with Vietnam. The reason why the reason why the decision was made is because the nation has experienced a rapid rise in HIV infections -- a rapid rise -- especially among the young.

And Vietnam is cooperative and wants help. In other words, they recognize they have a problem -- which, by the way, is an important part of battling the pandemic. People have got to say, I've got a problem, come and help us. It's hard in certain countries that people say, we don't have a problem, you know, in denial. In the meantime, people are dying. Part of diplomacy, by the way, good diplomacy says to leaders, I think you need to listen to the truth, and the truth will set you free and help people survive.

And so, therefore, we're sending up to the Congress a notification that Vietnam is now going to receive -- be a part of the 15 -- now 15 nation focus, and want the Vietnamese to hear, together we'll fight the disease. You've got a friend in America.