NPR Interviews Deputy Global AIDS Coordinator on PEPFAR’s Progress
NPR's "News & Notes with Ed Gordon" on Friday included an interview with Mark Dybul, deputy U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, about the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and its goals after the State Department this month released its second annual report to Congress on the plan's progress. According to the PEPFAR report, the U.S. in 2005 provided antiretroviral drugs to 471,000 people in developing countries. According to Dybul, PEPFAR is an "extraordinary" program in that the U.S. is "supporting the people of Africa in their efforts to fight HIV/AIDS," and the program is "bringing hope" to Africa. "Where you live shouldn't determine whether you live or die from HIV/AIDS," Dybul said. In response to criticism of the program's rate of progress by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), who co-wrote the legislation that launched PEPFAR, Dybul said that there is "still a great need" and that the issue is "how much can you do and at what pace" within the infrastructure of sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, Dybul in the NPR interview discussed PEPFAR's use of the ABC prevention method, which stands for abstinence, be faithful and use condoms ("News & Notes with Ed Gordon," NPR, 2/24).
The complete segment is available online in RealPlayer.