Pete Sessions: “in part of this bill was language that requires the CDC to develop a plan to deal with the medical transmission of AIDS…”

“in part of this bill was language that requires the CDC to develop a plan to deal with the medical transmission of AIDS in Africa. The science is coming in clearer and clearer that a substantial portion of the infections in Africa result from transmissions from blood transfusions or the reuse of needles for injections. In fact, we believe the World Health Organization numbers say that 10 percent are caused by it. That means as many as 300,000 infections in Africa are, in fact, a death sentence caused by unsafe medical practices. We need to end that. We can end that. We have had two hearings I have conducted. It is a moral crisis. It should not be allowed to continue. Our medical agencies, including Health and Human Services, CDC, and particularly WHO, have been slow to respond. My remarks go into great detail about the science behind this. It has raised the concern of human rights groups as well as health groups. We will continue to proceed. We will be discussing in more depth the need for focus. By WHO's own number, they can virtually eliminate this problem for less than $100 million a year. We will be spending $3 billion a year when the AIDS program in Africa is rolling. We can fund this. We can eliminate this and 300,000 people a year being infected would be stopped. There are even studies that show 670,000 Africans in South Africa from the age of 2 to 14 are now infected by HIV, much of that from unsafe health practices. It is a dilemma for us.…”