Bush to make rare appearance in DC marking 20th anniversary of AIDS program

Former President George W. Bush is ready to return to Washington, D.C. later this month in a uncommon look to mark the twentieth anniversary of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Reduction (PEPFAR).

Bush will probably be joined by his former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the previous president of Tanzania Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete on Feb. 24 at an occasion hosted by the George W. Bush Institute commemorating PEPFAR, a program that the State Division says has saved 25 million lives in preventing AIDS worldwide.

The trio will talk about how PEPFAR was established and the way it has impacted the world, in keeping with Bush’s press launch.

Bush established the PEPFAR program in 2003 to assist forestall the unfold of HIV — which might flip into AIDS if not handled correctly – and to look after these contaminated with the illness in different international locations. This system now operates in 50 completely different international locations has supplied practically 65 million individuals with HIV testing providers, in addition to handled greater than 20 million individuals, in keeping with the State Division.

Microsoft co-founder and billionaire Invoice Gates may also be in attendance, together with with David Kramer, who’s the manager director of the Bush Institute, to debate the “success” of PEPFAR’s program mannequin.

“PEPFAR is arguably essentially the most profitable U.S. international help program ever, having saved greater than 25 million lives to this point,” Kramer mentioned in an announcement. “PEPFAR has additionally strengthened well being programs, emboldened democracies, supported financial development, and superior progress on human rights. Congress and the American individuals ought to proceed to help PEPFAR till AIDS is now not a risk.”

Former First Girl Laura Bush may also introduce two ambassadors from the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Basis throughout the occasion. Secretary of State Antony Blinken may also ship remarks just about about this milestone, in keeping with the discharge.

President Joe Biden throughout Tuesday night time’s State of the Union deal with praised Bush for the PEPFAR program, saying that he believes the USA can comply with Bush’s mannequin with its therapy of most cancers additionally.

“Twenty years in the past, underneath the management of President Bush and numerous advocates and champions, he undertook a bipartisan effort by way of PEPFAR to rework the worldwide struggle towards HIV/AIDS.  It’s been an enormous success,” he mentioned. “He thought huge.  He thought massive.  He moved!”

“I imagine we will do the identical factor with most cancers.  Let’s finish most cancers as we all know it and remedy some cancers as soon as and for all,” he continued.