Text: Powell Urges Cooperative Effort to Fight HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean

22 April 2002

Text: Powell Urges Cooperative Effort to Fight HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean

Calls AIDS a major threat to region's development

Combating the spread of HIV/AIDS is a top priority for U.S. diplomatic missions in the Caribbean, according to Secretary of State Colin Powell.

"Our Caribbean community shares the problem of HIV/AIDS, and all of us must work in partnership to address it --developed and developing countries alike," Powell said in an April 20 message to a regional AIDS conference. "Our response to this crisis must be no less comprehensive, and no less relentless, than the AIDS pandemic itself."

Powell's message was delivered at a U.S.-Caribbean AIDS conference held April 20 in Georgetown, Guyana, that brought together ministers of health from throughout the Caribbean. U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson represented the United States at the event.

"AIDS threatens to reverse the social and economic gains that the men and women of the Caribbean have worked hard for decades to achieve," Powell said, noting that the HIV/AIDS infection rate in the Caribbean is growing at an "alarming" rate, second only to that found in sub-Saharan Africa.

Powell called the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria one important way for the international community to work in partnership against the disease. He pointed out that the United States is the largest single contributor to the fund, with its pledge of $500 million having attracted to date another $1.4 billion in pledges.

Fighting AIDS compels leadership and partnership that cuts across national borders, government ministries, cultural and class lines, and the public and private sectors, Powell said. He emphasized that he has "urged all United States ambassadors in this region to do their utmost to foster such leadership and partnership throughout the Caribbean and within their host countries."

Powell also called for an integrated approach to AIDS that encompasses prevention, public education, treatment for the infected, and care for orphans.

Following is the full text of Secretary Powell's message:

(begin text)

Message of the Secretary of State Colin L. Powell
to the U.S.-Caribbean AIDS Conference in Guyana

April 20, 2002

I'd like to thank my friend Tommy Thompson for bringing this important meeting together, the Pan American Health Organization for its support, and the Caribbean Community and Common Market and the government of Guyana for their assistance. I would also like to express my appreciation to the Ministers of Health of the Caribbean nations, and to the many non-governmental representatives here today for your leadership in the fight against AIDS.

Our Caribbean Community shares the problem of HIV/AIDS, and all of us must work in partnership to address it -- developed and developing countries alike. Our response to this crisis must be no less comprehensive, and no less relentless, than the AIDS pandemic itself.

The HIV/AIDS infection rate is growing at an alarming rate here, second only to that of sub-Saharan Africa. Men, women and children are dying. Families and communities are being devastated. AIDS threatens to reverse the social and economic gains that the men and women of the Caribbean have worked hard for decades to achieve, and which friends of the Caribbean have helped to advance. When AIDS attacks generations in their prime, it robs entire nations of their future.

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is one important way for the international community to work in partnership. The United States is the largest single contributor to the fund, and our $500 million pledge has attracted another $1.4 billion from others to date. The United States also is the largest contributor to bilateral programs against AIDS worldwide, and I am glad to report that our efforts in the Caribbean are increasing and intensifying.

A week ago, all of the United States ambassadors in this region gathered in Haiti for a conference on HIV/AIDS. In my message to the ambassadors, I made it clear that I want our diplomatic missions in the Caribbean to make stemming the tide of HIV/AIDS a top priority, just as President Bush, Secretary Thompson and I are making it a top priority at home and worldwide.

Combating this disease compels leadership and partnership across national borders and across government ministries. It requires leadership and partnership across cultural and class lines, leadership and partnership between the public and private sectors, and between institutions and individuals. And I urged all United States ambassadors in this region to do their utmost to foster such leadership and partnership throughout the Caribbean and within their host countries.

Presidents, Prime Ministers, Ministers of Health and Foreign Affairs, local-level officials, civic and religious leaders, cultural and sports figures, corporate executives -- all can work together to bring life-saving information to the public. Silence kills. As leaders and partners in the fight against AIDS, all of us must speak out to raise awareness at all levels of government and society.

Our approach must be an integrated one. It must encompass prevention and public education. It also must include helping to provide treatment for those who are infected and care for orphans and others who also suffer from the cruel effects of the disease.

All of us have a responsibility to send the message that AIDS is the enemy, not its victims. They deserve compassion, not ostracism. They deserve to be treated with dignity, not disdain.

This conference is an excellent opportunity for exchanging experiences, ideas and insights on ways we can work together to combat the AIDS crisis; to learn what has worked for others, and what hasn't. I hope that all delegations will return to their home countries armed with greater knowledge and a deepened commitment to act in concert.

I know that the United States Department of Health and Human Services and Agency for International Development look forward to close cooperation with all of you in the years ahead, as together we put our collective wisdom and resolve into practice.

Our community of nations is linked by history and culture, by travel and trade, by family and values. We are also linked by our vision of the future -- one of a democratic, prosperous, secure Caribbean. When we fight against AIDS together, we are fighting for that future of hope and promise.

To you, our Caribbean neighbors, I wish to say in closing that the United States of America is proud to be your partner as together we fight on the frontlines against AIDS in the Caribbean.

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