John F. Kerry and Richard J. Durbin Introduce Kerry-Durbin World AIDS Prevention Trust Fund Act

February 3, 2000

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator John F. Kerry and U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin introduced today the World AIDS Prevention Trust Fund Act, in order to prevent and eradicate the worldwide spread of the AIDS epidemic throughout the developing world. This legislation will facilitate the creation of a "trust fund" by the World Bank to collect funds from governments, the private sector, and nongovernmental entities to drive a global effort to prevent the human suffering caused by the AIDS epidemic, and the resulting threats to economic development, stability, and national security in the developing world.

"The public health disaster around the globe reminds us that AIDS knows no boundaries, so our fight to eradicate this disease must extend beyond our borders," said Senator Kerry. "In Africa alone the death toll from AIDS has reached 13,000,000; while 23,000,000 others live with the disease, and more than 10,000,000 children have been infected or orphaned by it. With the cooperation of the World Bank and the help of compassionate groups worldwide, we can thwart this terrible threat to public health, economic development, and stability."

"The financial resources needed to combat this devastating pandemic cannot be provided by the United States alone. By pooling our funds with those of other countries at the World Bank, we can put our taxpayers' dollars to work with redoubled impact," said Senator Durbin, who recently traveled to South Africa, Uganda and Kenya. "The World Bank also can fight the disastrous economic effects of this epidemic and help stop the reversal of 50 years of economic progress this disease could cause in developing countries, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa."

More than 90 percent of all adults and children infected with HIV/AIDS live in the developing world – 62 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa, 24 percent in Asia, and 6.9 percent in Latin America and the Caribbean. The World Bank estimates that for Africa alone $1,000,000,000 to $2,300,000,000 annually is needed for prevention in the region in contrast to the modest $160,000,000 a year in official assistance currently available for HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Contact: David Wade at 202-224-4159 ###