Bush recognizes World AIDS day with ribbon

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- A red ribbon on the White House North Portico reaffirms his administration's resolve to tackle HIV/AIDS directly, U.S. President George Bush said Monday.

"Today (Monday) is World AIDS Day, a day we reaffirm our commitment to fight HIV/AIDS at home and abroad," Bush said at the presentation of the ribbon. "The ribbon is a symbol of our resolve to confront HIV/AIDS and to affirm the matchless value of every life."

Bush discussed the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief initiative, calling it the largest international health project dedicated to one disease.

Through PEPFAR, Americans are supporting "life-saving treatment for more than 2 million people around the world," Bush said. "And when PEPFAR began, only 50,000 people living with HIV in all of sub-Sahara Africa were receiving antiretroviral treatment."

The program was Bush's commitment of $15 billion spread over 2003-08 to fight the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. The program initially was to provide antiretroviral treatment to 2 million HIV-infected people in poor countries, to prevent 7 million new infections and to support care for 10 million people by 2010.

"PEPFAR is bringing hope and healing to people around the world," Bush said.