Edolphus Towns: “I support the attempt in this bill to provide basic medical assistance to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. To understand the…”

“I support the attempt in this bill to provide basic medical assistance to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. To understand the importance of this assistance, we must get a firm grasp on the enormity of this problem. AIDS is truly a global killer. The virus respects no national boundaries, no religious affiliation, no race, no gender, and no age. In Sub-Sahara Africa, the region of the world most severely affected by HIV and AIDS, there are an estimated 25.3 million persons infected with the virus. In 7 African countries, 20 percent of the population is affected. In Botswana, it is estimated that 36 percent of the adult population is infected with HIV. Other regions of the world have equally alarming statistics. In Asia, the world's most populous continent, 3.5 million people are infected with HIV. Eastern Europe has the most rapid rate of growth in HIV infections. In 20 short months, the number of infected persons in the Russian Federation rose from 10,000 to 70,000. In Latin America, an estimated 1.9 million people are infected with HIV. In the Caribbean, HIV has impacted about 400,000 people. HIV and AIDS is the leading cause of death in Africa and the fourth leading cause of death worldwide. In the countries most affected in Africa, life expectancy has declined by 10 years and the infant death rates have doubled. This disease has ravaged families.”