WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday called on the world to create an “AIDS-free generation” by using antiviral drugs, condoms, circumcision and other approaches to stem the spread of HIV.
In a highly promoted speech at the National Institutes of Health, Clinton said scientific advances led by the United States have provided the tools to minimize the spread of the deadly virus.
“We have a chance to give countless lives and futures to millions of people who are alive today but equally if not profoundly more importantly to an entire new generation yet to be born,” Clinton said.
Public-health advocates hailed the speech.
“It’s very encouraging to see the U.S. government wanting to turn the latest HIV/AIDS science into policies that will save lives while beginning to reverse the epidemic,” said Unni Karunakara of Doctors Without Borders.
Since the deadly pandemic began 30 years ago, more than 60 million people have been infected with HIV worldwide and more than 30 million have died. An estimated 34 million people are living with the virus.
The Washington Post
