Speeches and Remarks
OFFICIAL TEXT
U.S. Consul General Jennifer McIntyre’s Remarks at Art Center, Madurai
January 18, 2011
Dr. Valan , Dr. Manoharan, Mr. Sagayam, staff and guests.
I am honored to visit Madurai Antoretroviral Therapy Center. Since the first case of HIV was detected in 1986 in Chennai, India has made great strides to battle this disease.
The Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society Fights for its vision where “no new individual would acquire the HIV infection, and every person living with HIV/AIDS has access to quality care and lives with dignity.”
This center itself (ART) provides care and treatment for over 50,000 individuals living with HIV and AIDS.
The United States also partners in the fight against HIV and AIDS. President Obama’s administration has made the fight against AIDS central to the Global Health Initiative, our commitment to strengthening global health systems and implementing sustainable solutions to improve the health of entire communities.
One major focus of the Global Health Initiative is strengthening our partnerships with countries and organizations around the world so they reflect and reinforce the global effort needed to defeat AIDS.
The United States has a partnership with India, through the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS RELIEF (PEPFAR), and provides expert technical cooperation to support HIV prevention and treatment.
Through PEPFAR, the United States Government and its partners are working closely with the Government of India to support the National AIDS Control Program.
The United States and the Government of Tamil Nadu have made a lot of progress together, but we cannot and must not stop. We need to keep working for an AIDS-free generation.
Thank you.