Wexler Recognizes Plight of AIDS Orphans Around the World

Congressman Wexler placed the following statement into the Congressional Record today recognizing World AIDS Orphans Day and the need to provide support to the millions of orphans and vulnerable children around the world who are victims of this terrible disease:

Madam Speaker, I want to join my colleagues in Congress as well as the entire international community in recognizing World AIDS Orphans Day.  This is a critically important day because we are reminded of our collective responsibility to address the needs of the world’s most vulnerable population -- millions of orphans and vulnerable children who need desperately need our support, care, attention and resources. 

According to the U.S. Agency for International Development, highly vulnerable children include those who receive inadequate adult support because of abandonment, economic distress, or chronic illness; have HIV/AIDS or are suspected of having HIV; are directly affected by armed conflict; live outside of family care; or in some other way have suffered from a collapse of traditional social safety nets in their communities.  Disease, conflict, violence, natural disaster, and severe economic strife leave millions of the world’s youngest people orphaned or otherwise vulnerable.  Globally, an estimated 132 million children in the developing world have lost one or both parents, while an additional, larger number of children are highly vulnerable, facing serious risks to their survival and wellbeing.  According to UNAIDS, by 2010, 20-25 million children could be orphaned by HIV/AIDS alone.

These children face a number of challenges, including finding money for school fees, food, clothing, and access to basic healthcare.  Their desperate plight makes them more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, ultimately making them more susceptible to contracting HIV.  To that end, Congress along with the international community and non-governmental organizations must be prepared to assist those communities where these orphans live and receive most their assistance.  Today fewer than 10 percent of orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) receive any kind of international support – the majority of the support they receive comes from their own communities.  I support the sentiments of such organizations as Global Action for Children and other leading NGO’s who believe that an effective response to the challenges facing these children must be to strengthen the capacity of families and communities to continue to provide care, protection, and assistance to them in, at a minimum, meeting their basic needs.

According to UNAIDS, an $800 million U.S. investment in 2009 is needed to provide universal HIV treatment, care, support and prevention services by 2015 to 19 million orphans and vulnerable children.  Under the United States leadership against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Act of 2003, 10 percent of all resources devoted to HIV/AIDS have been designated for programs to meet the needs of orphans and vulnerable children.  While the US contribution over the past several years has been significant, it will only be successful if we continue to provide the necessary assistance and renew our commitment to pass the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) reauthorization bill.

It is clear that Congress must do its part to meet America’s international commitment to assist orphans and vulnerable children. In that vein, I urge all of my colleagues to all of my colleagues to recognize World AIDS Orphans Day and join me in supporting swift passage of PEPFAR so that we can continue to meet the needs of millions of children around the world who desperately need our help.

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