The following is a joint press release from the Global AIDS Alliance Fund, AIDS Response Seacoast, Jubilee USA, and Student Global AIDS Campaign.
Manchester, NH, December 1, 2007—Leaders from New Hampshire came together with leaders from around the world to ask all of the candidates running for President in the state a simple question on the eve of World AIDS Day: "If elected, what will you do to end the HIV and AIDS pandemic?"
At an event hosted by local and global AIDS groups on the eve of World AIDS Day, gathered leaders including a former UN official, an HIV-positive mother from Zambia, church leaders, students, and leaders at local AIDS service organizations called for immediate action.
Stephen Lewis, former UN Special Envoy on AIDS in Africa and now Co-Director of AIDS-Free World, called on the US presidential candidates to do more to fight AIDS: "The US leadership needs to acknowledge that while $3 billion a year was a significant expenditure on AIDS back in 2003 and 2004, it does not stack up now. The next US President must do so much more."
Sandra Banda, HIV-positive mother, activist, and counselor from Zambia traveled to Manchester to join the events. She said: "The US public, as they are electing someone, must ask if they have good plans for AIDS. Without one, the pandemic will go on and on. Whatever decisions the incoming US president makes will affect us in Africa and around the world living with HIV."
"As a voter in New Hampshire I'm saying to those running for President, what are you going to do on AIDS? Let us know, or by your silence your intentions are obvious," said David Lamarre-Vincent, Director of the New Hampshire Council of Churches.
"As young people, we know that ending the pandemic is going to be the work of our generation," said Hayley Hathaway of the Student Global AIDS Campaign and a student at Smith College. "We expect real leadership and want to hear from everyone running for President how they'll ensure universal access to AIDS treatment, prevention, and care here in the US and around the world."
"I want to see enough funding for AIDS here in New Hampshire and across the US. We should not be fighting with other states and agencies that are also working to keep people alive," said Lilly Ramos Spooner, Director of Operations at the Greater Manchester AIDS Project. She added, "Here in New Hampshire, global issues are local issues. We work with immigrants and refugees, and we need the next President to address issues like women around the global infected by HIV through violence and rape—and end the impunity toward violence."
So far, only Ms. Clinton, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Obama, Mr. Richardson, and Mr. Huckabee have announced plans on HIV/AIDS.
A second event was scheduled for a church in Manchester, New Hampshire, but a hostage and bomb threat two blocks away kept the event from going forward.
