For Immediate Release
(Cambridge, MA)—Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) hails President Obama's announcement of his intent to nominate Eric Goosby, MD, CEO and Chief Medical Officer of Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation as the US Global AIDS Coordinator and urges his swift confirmation by the US Senate.
"Dr. Goosby has the knowledge and vision to lead the United States' global AIDS initiatives," said Frank Donaghue, Chief Executive Officer of PHR. "He brings a unique and powerful combination of experiences that includes treating people living with HIV, training health care workers, administering a large federal HIV/AIDS treatment program and developing and implementing HIV initiatives around the world."
Dr. Goosby was involved in the creation of PHR's Health Action AIDS (HAA) campaign in 2002 and has been an active advisor with the campaign since its inception. "We have benefitted greatly from Dr. Goosby's wise counsel and active engagement in our efforts to mobilize health professionals in support of evidence-based global AIDS initiatives rooted in sound human rights principles," said Pat Daoust, MSN, RN, HAA Director.
As the global economic crisis threatens the US commitment to HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention initiatives, Dr. Goosby will require adequate funding to fulfill the administrations' promise to fight global AIDS. He will need to act quickly to build support within the Obama Administration and Congress to fund the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) at the levels authorized by Congress.
"As Dr. Goosby moves into his new role, we are eager to partner with him to address key issues related to the successful scale-up of HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs, including health systems strengthening, the ever-growing impact of HIV/AIDS on women, and the implementation of effective harm reduction strategies that reflect best public health practice. We also urge him to work with his colleagues at the Department of Health and Human Services to lift the nation's regressive and unsound HIV travel ban so that our policy reflects the US's leadership in other areas of the global HIV/AIDS response," said Daoust.
The Health Action AIDS Campaign at PHR mobilizes health professionals to support comprehensive HIV prevention and care initiatives that target women and injection drug users and advocates for unprecedented funds to fight global AIDS, strengthening Africa's health systems and health workforce.
Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is a New York-based advocacy organization that uses science and medicine to prevent mass atrocities and severe human rights violations. Learn more here.