World AIDS Day
Ambassador
Ambassador's Radio Message
TEXT OF AMBASSADOR GUTIERREZ'S RADIO MESSAGE ON WORLD AIDS DAY
December 1 is World AIDS Day. It is a day to remember the heavy toll of the disease and those still suffering. It is also a day to renew the commitment to the worldwide fight against HIV/AIDS.
In 2003, President Bush announced the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief – a five-year, $15 billion approach to combating the disease in 123 countries around the world. This is the largest international health initiative directed at fighting a single disease.
As the President said, "There are only two possible responses to suffering of this magnitude. We can turn our eyes away in resignation and despair, or we can take decisive, historic action to turn the tide against this disease..."
But the fight is not ours alone. We are working with other governments and with thousands of private groups and individuals whose time and effort are making a difference. In this spirit, there is reason for hope that we will one day enjoy a future free of HIV/AIDS.