Film details U.S. AIDS efforts in Africa
United Press International - Friday, July 09, 2004
Reena Vadehra, UPI Correspondent
To counter critics who say President George W. Bush's AIDS initiative
is inadequate or ineffective, the independent AIDS Responsibility
Project, along with several U.S. government officials, is backing a
documentary detailing U.S. efforts to combat AIDS in Africa.
The film examines the nature of the epidemic in Uganda, South Africa
and Botswana.
"Stepping Up: America Responds to Global AIDS," produced by the
Marlo Group, will premiere at the 2004 International AIDS Conference
in Bangkok next week
.
Over 15,000 delegates from 160 countries will attend the weeklong
event. This year's theme is "Access for All."
At a reception for the launch of the film in Washington Tuesday,
medical experts, AIDS activists and government leaders gathered to
watch a 15-minute clip of the hour-long documentary.
"This is a film that can bring the dimensions of this tragedy into
peoples' homes and make people understand this in terms that are
more human, personal and real," Ambassador Randall Tobias, the
U.S. global AIDS coordinator, said. "Certainly in the United States, the
vast majority of the American people know that AIDS is an issue
around the world but they have no concept that the equivalent of 20
Boeing 747s going down every day is the number of people dying,"
Tobias said.
"Stepping Up" begins in a rural hospital for children with HIV in
Uganda. The building is run-down, with little food, no laboratories and
no electricity or running water. Mothers have to sleep on the floor next
to their children's beds, as there is no space to accommodate them.
United Press International - Friday, July 09, 2004
Reena Vadehra, UPI Correspondent
To counter critics who say President George W. Bush's AIDS initiative
is inadequate or ineffective, the independent AIDS Responsibility
Project, along with several U.S. government officials, is backing a
documentary detailing U.S. efforts to combat AIDS in Africa.
The film examines the nature of the epidemic in Uganda, South Africa
and Botswana.
"Stepping Up: America Responds to Global AIDS," produced by the
Marlo Group, will premiere at the 2004 International AIDS Conference
in Bangkok next week
.
Over 15,000 delegates from 160 countries will attend the weeklong
event. This year's theme is "Access for All."
At a reception for the launch of the film in Washington Tuesday,
medical experts, AIDS activists and government leaders gathered to
watch a 15-minute clip of the hour-long documentary.
"This is a film that can bring the dimensions of this tragedy into
peoples' homes and make people understand this in terms that are
more human, personal and real," Ambassador Randall Tobias, the
U.S. global AIDS coordinator, said. "Certainly in the United States, the
vast majority of the American people know that AIDS is an issue
around the world but they have no concept that the equivalent of 20
Boeing 747s going down every day is the number of people dying,"
Tobias said.
"Stepping Up" begins in a rural hospital for children with HIV in
Uganda. The building is run-down, with little food, no laboratories and
no electricity or running water. Mothers have to sleep on the floor next
to their children's beds, as there is no space to accommodate them.
| (from left) ARP Executive Director Abner Mason, Cissy Ssuuna from Uganda, US Senator Richard Lugar and US Global AIDS Ambassador Randall Tobias at the Washington DC launch of ARP's documentary film "Stepping Up - America Responds to Global AIDS". |
AIDS
FILM PROJECT
| (from left) From the Marlo Group, brothers and film producers Michael and Ed Lopatin. A film crew from the Marlo Group traveled to Africa with the ARP delegation. The Marlo Group produced the Film "Stepping Up - America Responds to Global AIDS. |
| SPECIAL INVITATION Please join Ambassador Randall L. Tobias Global AIDS Coordinator and The Honorable Richard Lugar (R- IN) Chairman, Senate Foreign Relations Committee as AIDS Responsibility Project launches Stepping Up: America Responds to Global AIDS a documentary by filmmakers Ed & Michael Lopatin highlighting President Bush’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the unprecedented US commitment to combat AIDS in Africa. Tuesday, July 6, 2004, 7-9pm The Stephen Decatur House 1610 H Street, NW Washington, DC 7:00pm – Sponsor/VIP Reception 7:30pm - General Reception, Remarks, Documentary Trailer ARP is hosting a full-length screening of Stepping Up on Wednesday, July 7th on Capitol Hill for Congressional staff. |
| DOCUMENTARY FILM EXCERPTS America Responds to Global AIDS |
CLICK
| US Senator Richard Lugar, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about to deliver keynote remarks. |
| Washington DC Premier of ARP's Documentary Film, "Stepping Up - America Responds to Global AIDS" |
| Bangkok International Premier of ARP's Documentary Film, "Stepping Up - America Responds to Global AIDS" |
| VIP INVITATION Please join AIDS Responsibility Project and Special Guest Ambassador Randall L. Tobias Global AIDS Coordinator as we launch Stepping Up: America Responds to Global AIDS a documentary by filmmakers Ed & Michael Lopatin highlighting President Bush’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the unprecedented US commitment to combat AIDS in Africa. Tuesday, July 13, 2004, 5:30-7: 30pm The Oriental Hotel, Bangkok Please RSVP to events@aidsresponsibility.org and forward to colleagues attending the International AIDS Conference in Bangkok. |
| Special Invitation Washington DC Premier of ARP's Documentary Film, "Stepping Up - America Responds to Global AIDS" |
| Bangkok International Premier of ARP's Documentary Film, "Stepping Up - America Responds to Global AIDS" |
| (from left) US Global AIDS Ambassador Randall Tobias, US Ambassador to Thailand Darryl Johnson, and ARP Executive Director Abner Mason in Bangkok at the international launch for ARP's documentary film, held in conjunction with the 2004 World AIDS Conference, also held in Bangkok. |
| ARP's Executive Director Abner Mason with Dr. Jorge Saavedra, Director is CENSIDA, the Mexico National HIV/AIDS Program. |
| ARP's Executive Director Abner Mason with Dr. Hank McKinnell, Chairman and CEO of Pfizer. |
| (from left) Carol Thompson, Director of the White House Office on National AIDS Policy, ARP's Executive Director Abner Mason, and Dr. Jorge Saavedra, Director is CENSIDA, the Mexico National HIV/AIDS Program. |
| Moderator for the event, James Glassman, writer, American Enterprise Institute Fellow, and later US Deputy Secretary of State for Public Diplomancy |
| US Ambassador to Thailand, Darryl Johnson delivering keynote remarks. |
| ARP's luminescent logo as backdrop to the film premier reception at the Decatur House. |
In South Africa, the myths associated with HIV/AIDS are explored. One
man says that just by looking at women from the side, you can tell they
are inferior.
An HIV-infected woman in an outpatient clinic in South Africa explains
how the stigma of the virus stops women from coming forward to be
tested.
At Dula Sentle, a day-care center for orphans in Botswana, the children
gather in front of the camera to sing a song titled "Sometimes,"
dedicated to the passing of their parents due to HIV/AIDS.
These are a few of the programs the Bush AIDS initiative seeks to fund.
Launched in 2003, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
aims to prevent 7 million new infections and provide treatment for 2
million HIV infected people in five years through a $15 billion program.
"We have the largest, most complex humanitarian relief effort ever in
the history of the world. We Americans have a good reason to be proud
of this initiative," said Abner Mason, executive director of the AIDS
Responsibility Project.
Some success has been seen, especially in Uganda, where the
infection rates were at a high of 30 percent in the 1990s and currently
are estimated at around 6 percent. The reduction is attributed to
President Yoweri Museveni's vigorous prevention campaign -- ABC:
Abstinence, Be Faithful, or Use Condoms.
On June 11, 2004, Uganda began providing free anti-retroviral drugs to
AIDS patients.
For Sissy Suunna, a Ugandan, HIV-positive mother and widow whose
story was documented in "Stepping Up," much work still needs to be
done.
"We are worried about the people who have started treatment and will
not continue because they cannot afford to pay for their anti-retroviral
therapy. How is PEPFAR going to help us so that we can continue
accessing therapy?" Suunna said at the Washington launch.
Suunna has struggled to pay for her own anti-retroviral drugs.
"When I needed it (drugs) I could not afford it if it were not for my
brother to sell his home and land," Suunna said.
The launch of the film comes on the heels of a report by the Joint United
Nations Program on HIV/AIDS estimating that in 2003 there were five
million new HIV infections, more than in any previous year.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the worst hit by HIV/AIDS. Whereas the
worldwide infection rate averages about 1.1 percent, in sub-Saharan
Africa the infection rate is from 7.5 - 8.5 percent.
According to UNAIDS, two-thirds of all people living with HIV, about 25
million people, live in sub-Saharan Africa.
"The numbers are staggering," Mason said. "But it is important that we
not get lost in the numbers because that can paralyze us and cause us
not to act or it can cause us to become complacent because we think
we can't do anything about it."
"We know how daunting the arithmetic is without a substantial
breakthrough on a vaccine," Senator Richard D. Lugar added.
"Stepping Up" supporters are airing the film in Bangkok in hopes that
the U.S. AIDS policy will catch on in other countries.
"We've stepped up now and it's not too late. Even with the enormous
U.S. resources, we can't do it alone. We have got to encourage other
wealthy nations, the French, the British, the Germans, the Japanese,"
Mason said.
The documentary will also be distributed to public high schools in the
United States on World AIDS Day, December 1. There are plans to
distribute and screen the film at U.S. embassies as well
http://www.aegis.com/news/upi/2004/UP040708.html
man says that just by looking at women from the side, you can tell they
are inferior.
An HIV-infected woman in an outpatient clinic in South Africa explains
how the stigma of the virus stops women from coming forward to be
tested.
At Dula Sentle, a day-care center for orphans in Botswana, the children
gather in front of the camera to sing a song titled "Sometimes,"
dedicated to the passing of their parents due to HIV/AIDS.
These are a few of the programs the Bush AIDS initiative seeks to fund.
Launched in 2003, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
aims to prevent 7 million new infections and provide treatment for 2
million HIV infected people in five years through a $15 billion program.
"We have the largest, most complex humanitarian relief effort ever in
the history of the world. We Americans have a good reason to be proud
of this initiative," said Abner Mason, executive director of the AIDS
Responsibility Project.
Some success has been seen, especially in Uganda, where the
infection rates were at a high of 30 percent in the 1990s and currently
are estimated at around 6 percent. The reduction is attributed to
President Yoweri Museveni's vigorous prevention campaign -- ABC:
Abstinence, Be Faithful, or Use Condoms.
On June 11, 2004, Uganda began providing free anti-retroviral drugs to
AIDS patients.
For Sissy Suunna, a Ugandan, HIV-positive mother and widow whose
story was documented in "Stepping Up," much work still needs to be
done.
"We are worried about the people who have started treatment and will
not continue because they cannot afford to pay for their anti-retroviral
therapy. How is PEPFAR going to help us so that we can continue
accessing therapy?" Suunna said at the Washington launch.
Suunna has struggled to pay for her own anti-retroviral drugs.
"When I needed it (drugs) I could not afford it if it were not for my
brother to sell his home and land," Suunna said.
The launch of the film comes on the heels of a report by the Joint United
Nations Program on HIV/AIDS estimating that in 2003 there were five
million new HIV infections, more than in any previous year.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the worst hit by HIV/AIDS. Whereas the
worldwide infection rate averages about 1.1 percent, in sub-Saharan
Africa the infection rate is from 7.5 - 8.5 percent.
According to UNAIDS, two-thirds of all people living with HIV, about 25
million people, live in sub-Saharan Africa.
"The numbers are staggering," Mason said. "But it is important that we
not get lost in the numbers because that can paralyze us and cause us
not to act or it can cause us to become complacent because we think
we can't do anything about it."
"We know how daunting the arithmetic is without a substantial
breakthrough on a vaccine," Senator Richard D. Lugar added.
"Stepping Up" supporters are airing the film in Bangkok in hopes that
the U.S. AIDS policy will catch on in other countries.
"We've stepped up now and it's not too late. Even with the enormous
U.S. resources, we can't do it alone. We have got to encourage other
wealthy nations, the French, the British, the Germans, the Japanese,"
Mason said.
The documentary will also be distributed to public high schools in the
United States on World AIDS Day, December 1. There are plans to
distribute and screen the film at U.S. embassies as well
http://www.aegis.com/news/upi/2004/UP040708.html
| (from left) ARP Executive Director Abner Mason with Karl-Heinz Schlaiss, Daimler/Chrysler's Washington DC representative. Daimler/Chrysler's innovative HIV/AIDS program at it's South Africa plant was featured in ARP's film. |
RESPONSIBILITY
PROJECT